WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Jayson Tatum wrapped up his media availability after shootaround on Friday morning, he left with a straightforward message: “We’ve just got to try and figure out a way to win.”
That’s exactly what the Celtics had to do on Friday night in the Nation’s Capital—because they had no other choice.
Whether it was the after-effects of the White House apple cider or just an off night, the Celtics came out flat. They leaned heavily on isolation plays, missed open shots, and turned the ball over far too often. Things were so disjointed that they even had two inbound passes intercepted by defenders right on the ball.
This sloppy play allowed the Wizards—who hadn’t won a game in over three weeks—to build an 11-point lead in the first half. Boston’s offensive struggles were hard to ignore, with Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown shooting a combined 8-of-29 (27.5%) before the break.
Yet, the Celtics managed to stay within reach, thanks to their defense and a timely lift from the bench. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet contributed a crucial 19 points, while the starting unit mustered just 30.
The offensive struggles lingered into the second half, and much like the players, the crowd—roughly three-quarters of them Celtics fans—were waiting for something to reignite their energy and pull them back into the game.
That spark finally arrived, and it came from two unexpected catalysts.
Late in the third quarter, Jaylen Brown drove to the basket, pump-faked, and missed a layup, seemingly getting fouled in the process. However, the officials let the play continue. On the sidelines, head coach Joe Mazzulla erupted, earning a technical foul from Crew Chief Ed Malloy. After the call, assistant coaches Sam Cassell and Tony Dobbins had to step in to separate Mazzulla as he continued to berate the official.
The outburst was intentional. Mazzulla saw an opportunity to shift the energy in the arena and seized it.
“It changed the energy in the arena. Did you feel that?” Mazzulla said postgame.
“It was about manipulating the environment. I thought that was kind of what the environment needed at that time. You just have to make those calls from time to time. I thought the team — we were playing pretty good. It wasn’t like I needed to do that, but I felt like it was a way to manipulate the environment.”
It worked. True to the ideology of “Mazzulla Ball”—exploiting the subtle nuances and psychological aspects of the game—the Celtics responded. Boston went on a 12-4 run, taking control of the game.
“We didn’t have a lot of energy tonight. I think it was kind of clear. Maybe it was from yesterday. A long day came in a little bit flat,” Brown said. “We definitely needed to find different ways to put a pep in our step. And I guess Joe getting the tech — I don’t know if that helped or hurt, but we just needed to be better. I think that was the start of it.”
“I think that was smart,” added Jrue Holiday. “Just to know that he has our back, no matter what. He was disrespectful in a respectful way. I think getting that tech — just showing us that I’m going to fight for you guys, and then having the crowd behind us, even in that situation, was big.”
Also contributing to that third-quarter run was Xavier Tillman’s unexpected spark. The 25-year-old had recently fallen out of the rotation, appearing in just four of the Celtics’ 10 games in November, mostly during garbage time. However, following Mazzulla’s technical, Tillman entered the game and immediately made his presence felt.
The big man built off Mazzulla’s energy, bringing life to the court with a key block on Jordan Poole, which led to a Sam Hauser three on the other end. The Celtics never trailed again.
“He’s been working hard, and I felt like the game needed something different,” Mazzulla said on Tillman. “We wanted a little bit more switching, and the last time we played them, we played him and Luke together, and he did some great things on the defensive end, especially in the Valanciunas minutes. So, just wanted to win those minutes in the fourth quarter. It’s a credit to him, just working hard and being ready. I thought he gave us some good stuff.”
Mazzulla rewarded Tillman by closing with him down the stretch, a testament to Tillman’s ability to stay ready and change the energy of the game, even in a tough situation.
“I thought Xavier made a contribution,” said Brown. It’s tough not being able to play for a while and coming back into the lineup, but X is a guy that contributes to our offense and defense, being able to switch, being able to guard other opposing team’s guard so we can play 15 and then rebound. So I think that’s an asset for us. So throughout the season, we’re going to use that, utilize it more. So he’s just got to stay ready.”
Those contributions were crucial, especially for a team that thrives on three-pointers but shot a season-low 23.9% from deep. It was a night when their usual offensive weapons weren’t clicking, and yet they found a way to rally. Staying true to the mantra on those championship rings they proudly wore at the White House, the Celtics are embracing “Whatever it takes.”
Whether it's through defense, timely plays from across the roster, or grinding through tough moments, winning ugly is becoming a defining trait of this team. It’s a mentality that’s becoming second nature—and one that could prove vital as the season unfolds.
“Winners find a way,” Holiday said. “We’ve proven that we’re winners, so any chance we get to try and win a game, especially a tournament game like this, where it’s important to us, and there are things we want to do with this tournament, we find a way.”
The Celtics aren’t at their best – and they shouldn’t be, it’s only November – but they are still 13-3 and on track to meet or exceed many of the record numbers they sent last season. Having these grind-it-out victories could go a long way for a team that already has ample experience.
“Just finding ways to win,” Brown said. Having versatility, having the humility to see it’s not going the way you wanted to, and being humble enough to just do whatever it takes to figure it out. It’s great to be able to win games and learn at the same time.”
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