With 27 seconds remaining in the game and the Celtics leading by 15, Payton Pritchard was called for a ticky-tack shooting foul on Hornets’ reserve JT Thor.
As referee Pat Fraher raised his arm to signal the foul, Pritchard threw his hands up in disbelief and looked over to the Celtics’ bench. On the sideline, Joe Mazzulla turned around and appeared to look at assistant coach Matt Reynolds as if he was wondering whether or not to challenge the call.
It wouldn’t have been a total shock if Mazzulla called for “the green light special.”
True to the “win the day” mindset he has instilled in his team, Mazzulla has shown no hesitation in making opposing teams uncomfortable by challenging calls late in games. He stresses his commitment to coaching every player on his roster and the importance of those “garbage time minutes.”
However, this time, Mazzulla didn’t call for the challenge. Instead, he let the 21-year-old shoot the harmless free throws before dribbling the clock out on the ensuing possession to cap off a 118-104 victory.
Maybe Mazzulla didn’t believe he would win the challenge, unwilling to risk tarnishing his impressive 68.5% success rate. Perhaps he genuinely thought it was a foul. Or maybe, after an exhausting 11-day, six-game road trip — their longest of the season — the Celtics were just ready to head home.
If the final option was indeed the case, it was the only time the Celtics showed any sense of letting up despite being on the last leg of a week-and-a-half road trip.
Although Jaylen Brown was sidelined with a left-hand sprain, the Celtics came out and took care of business – as has been the case so often this season – capping off the road trip 4-2 and advancing to an NBA-best 27-13 on the road.
Per Dick Lipe, The 14-point victory marked Boston’s 19th double-digit road win this season, tying a franchise record. Boston has reached that figure twice in franchise history, each time resulting in a trip to the NBA Finals (2007-08 and 2021-22). The only teams with more double-digit road wins are the Lakers (24) in 1971-72 and the Spurs (20) in 2015-16.
That 1971-72 Lakers team and the 2007-08 Celtics each went on to win the NBA Finals, meaning 50% of the teams that have reached 19 or more double-digit road victories have raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“Very important,” Jayson Tatum said on closing their season-long six-game road trip with a win. “4-2 on the road trip, in hindsight, not too bad. The last day on a 12-13-day road trip could be the toughest because we are ready to go home and see our families. So it’s good to get this one.”
Luckily for Tatum and the Celtics, that was their final road trip of the season, as the Green will play six of their final seven games at TD Garden. The only traveling they will do between now and Game 3 of the first first round of the postseason will be a quick trip to Milwaukee on April 9.
As Boston put the finishing touches on the trip, it was who Tatum led the way for the Celtics, notching his 25th double-double of the season with 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Tatum is one of just 21 players to record 25 double-doubles this season.
The Celtics also got key contributions from Sam Hauser, who scored 25 points of his own behind seven triples, Kristaps Porzingis (20 points, seven rebounds, five assists), and Derrick White, who flirted with a double-double finishing with 19 points, nine boards, and five assists.
Miles Bridges led the Hornets, finishing with 26 points and 11 boards, while old friend Grant Williams finished with 23 points and seven rebounds. The Hornets dropped to a dreadful 18-57 on the year.
Here are five takeaways from the win.
Closing quarters and responding to runs
How the Celtics close the final minutes of quarters is a key point of emphasis for Mazzulla.
In the macro of a 48-minute game, the final two minutes or so may seem inconsequential. However, this seemingly minor aspect of the game can have a significant impact, particularly in the postseason. It’s a prime example of the finer details of the game that may go unnoticed or overlooked.
On Monday night, we saw how these crucial moments can be game-changers.
In a back-and-forth first half, a Vasilije Micic 16-foot pull-up jumper tied the game at 53-53 with 1:37 remaining until recess. It was the seventh tie of the game, and little did anybody know, it would be the last.
The Celtics closed the final 1:37 of the first half on a 6-0 run fueled by Tatum getting to the basket. Boston’s six-point lead marked their largest of the game, and was a lead they never surrendered.
Early in the third quarter, Boston pushed that lead to double digits. When Charlotte cut it to seven with 1:56 remaining in the frame, the Celtics responded strongly, with another dominant end to the quarter, finishing on a 9-0 run.
The run pushed Boston’s lead to 16, putting them ahead by double-digits for good.
That is the trait of a championship team.
The bench brings it
All season, Boston’s bench has been impactful. Look no further than their +264 plus-minus (Only four other teams are north of +100) and their 5.8 net rating, also an NBA-best.
If you need more evidence, they are fourth in shooting percentage (47.9%) and second in three-point percentage (38.3%).
There is no secret that this unit can ball, and that’s been highlighted by their increased minutes over the last month or so.
Led by Hauser’s 25 points, Boston’s bench outscored Charlotte’s 37-19. Boston’s reserves scored or assisted on 23 of the Celtics’ 43 makes (53.4%).
Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet, and Oshae Brissett were Boston's main contributors off the bench, each logging at least 13 minutes. Additionally, Al Horford added 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists, continuing to provide incredible consistency in his new swing role.
Depth is one of Boston’s biggest strengths, and it goes beyond just their top six. That was evident again on Monday night.
Another strong defensive effort
After stifling the New Orleans Pelicans to a mere 92 points on Saturday, the Celtics’ defense once again proved its mettle on Monday night.
Despite Charlotte’s blistering start, with nine of their first 14 shots finding the mark (64.3%), including four of their first six from beyond the arc (66.6%), the Celtics maintained their poise, calmly navigating through the storm until equilibrium was restored.
Charlotte averages the second-fewest points per game (106.3) this season and is one of the least efficient offenses, shooting just 45.8% (27th), posting a 108.3 offensive rating (28th). No disrespect to the Hornets, but they aren’t a great offense.
So, it was only a matter of time before the law of averages prevailed. Charlotte couldn’t sustain its early scoring outburst against one of the league’s top defenses – and, as anticipated, the Celtics limited the Hornets to just 72 points on 28-of-67 shooting (41.7%) over the final three quarters.
Credit to Mazzulla and the Celtics for sticking with and trusting the process defensively. Riding out those inevitable rough waters will be crucial for the postseason.
Kristaps Porzingis’ versatility
There is a reason Porzingis is often referred to as a “Cheat code.”
At 7-foot-2, he can shoot from anywhere on the floor, is elite in the post, spaces the floor, works as a screener, and is one of the premier rim protectors in the NBA. There really isn’t much the big man can’t do, which makes him a nightmare for opposing teams.
“Other than height?” Grant Williams said with a smile when about the challenges Porzingis presents. “He’s a special talent. I always give him credit because I always had issues guarding him, even when I was in Boston… He does a good job playing with his size, and he’s a big that can shoot. He’s a great add to that team.”
“He’s an elite player for a reason.”
Porzingis did a little bit of everything Monday night. He scored 20 points on a very efficient 6-of-10 (60%) shooting, knocked down 7-of-8 (87.5%) free throws, snagged seven rebounds, and dished out five assists. The 28-year-old has scored at least 17 points in his last 12 games.
“He was versatile,” Mazzulla said of Porzingis’s postgame. “He did a good job mixing up his rolls and pops, which put us in some different types of two-on-ones. Then, I think in the middle of the third quarter, he went to his post-ups and was able to catch the ball and make plans for us. I thought he was really decisive on the offensive end, and it gave us different looks.”
Porzingis’ value to the offense was unmistakable on Monday night. His ability to maneuver around the nail has significantly enhanced Boston’s offensive arsenal, serving as a reliable scoring option whenever needed – as demonstrated in Monday night’s performance.
Incentive check
While there’s no concrete statistical evidence, it often feels like the Celtics have been present multiple times this season when lucky fans have nailed a shot for $100,000, a vacation, or something equally exciting.
So, it’s only fitting that the Celtics eventually make one of those money shots for themselves, right?
On Monday night, the anticipation turned into reality. Although this shot didn’t occur during a timeout or at halftime, one fortunate member of the Celtics earned himself a nice $500,000 with a made three-pointer.
Derrick White stepped onto the court on Monday night needing just one more three-pointer to secure a lucrative $500,000 incentive bonus for hitting 185 threes in the season. It didn’t take long, as the 29-year-old buried a corner three midway through the first quarter.
The triple marked the first time in his career that White passed the 185 mark. With three more threes on the night, he solidified his place in the top 10 for most single-season threes by a Celtic in franchise history.
White’s payday isn’t over. He just needs to play in one more game to secure another $500,000 for playing in 70 or more regular-season games and has an additional $250,000 waiting if he’s named to the First or Second-Team All-Defense, which seems like a sure bet.
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