Joe Mazzulla has a standard for the Celtics.
Night in and night out, he wants them to be the smarter, tougher, harder-playing team. It doesn’t matter if it’s the second night of a back-to-back or even their fifth game in seven nights in three different time zones. Nor does it matter who is available.
If you’re in a Celtics uniform, the expectation is clear: uphold the six principles that hang on a banner between the championship banners at the practice facility — humility, mindset, togetherness, toughness, passion, and compete.
And the Celtics continue to meet that standard.
Without Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta, and, of course, Jayson Tatum, after arriving in Milwaukee in the early morning hours Monday and playing their fifth game in seven nights in three time zones, the Celtics never let it slip, cruising to a 108-81 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the win, Boston improved to 10-1 when missing one of Brown, Derrick White, or Payton Pritchard. They also moved to 7-4 on the second night of back-to-backs.
The Celtics led by as many as 31, their 12th 30-point lead of the season and fourth in the last seven games. It marked their 13th win by 20 or more points, tied for the second-most in the NBA, and improved them to 21-6 against teams below .500.
Six Celtics finished in double figures, led by Pritchard’s 25 points and nine assists. White added 18 points and nine assists, while Hugo Gonzalez recorded a career-high 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, which was also a career-high.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, playing in his first game since January 23 after being sidelined with a calf strain, finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee.
Here are six takeaways as the Celtics won their third straight and their 12th in the last 14 games.
Hugo Gonzalez had the best game of his young career
Let’s just look at the raw numbers:
18 points (career-high)
Three three-pointers (tied career-high)
16 rebounds (career-high)
5 offensive rebounds (career-high)
3 steals (career-high)
2 blocks (tied career-high)
+27
In just his third career start, the 20-year-old rookie delivered the best performance of his young career, a stat line matched by only 13 other rookies in NBA history. The only other Celtics rookie to produce one like it? Larry Bird in 1979.
He was active from the opening possession, grabbing three rebounds in the first three minutes and setting the tone with his signature relentless energy. Defensively, he played a key role in holding Giannis Antetokounmpo to an inefficient 19 points on 18 shots (38.9%).
The rookie has been everything Boston could have imagined, and then some. He has been as advertised and, if anything, ahead of schedule in his development. His defensive instincts already stand out, underscored by recent matchups against some of the league’s biggest stars, including Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Tyrese Maxey.
When the redrafts are done in a few years, don’t be surprised if Gonzalez is taken well before No. 28. He is set up for great future success in the NBA.
Payton Pritchard bounces back
On Sunday night against the 76ers, Payton Pritchard was held scoreless in 27 minutes. It was the most minutes he had ever played without scoring in his career.
On Monday night, he bounced back in a big way.
Pritchard scored a game-high 25 points, knocking down five threes on 10 attempts. He also dished out nine assists, tied for the game-high, and added four rebounds. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has now scored 25 or more points off the bench six times this season, which leads the NBA.
In 12 games off the bench, he is averaging 18.6 points (48.8% FG, 43.5% 3PT), 6.0 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. Since moving to the bench, he leads all reserves in total points (223), assists (72), and plus-minus (+93).
The 28-year-old consistently responds after rough shooting nights, having shot under 35% in consecutive games only twice this season.
The Celtics defended at a high level
If someone told you before the season that the Celtics would rank fifth in defensive rating (111.6) and allow the fewest points per game in the NBA (107.0) through 61 games, you probably would have thought they were crazy. If someone added that they would be a top-10 defensive rebounding team, you might have called them insane.
Yet, here we are.
Remember in the preseason when Mazzulla was pulling anyone who allowed an offensive rebound? Or when they were losing early games because they couldn’t secure late rebounds? That feels like a lifetime ago.
Remember the preseason, when Mazzulla was pulling players who allowed an offensive rebound? Or when Boston was losing early games because they couldn’t secure late boards? That feels like a lifetime ago.
Despite not having their best rebounder in Jayson Tatum, the Celtics now rank 10th in defensive rebounding percentage at 69.9%, by far their biggest improvement this season.
They started the year at 28th in October (64.7%) and 26th in November (67.0%). They climbed to 18th in December (68.3%) and have been in the top ten since, ranking ninth in January (71.7%) and second in February (74.2%). That surge helped them allow the third-fewest second-chance points in February.
Limiting opponents to one shot has helped significantly with their defensive rise. After surrendering just 81 points to the Bucks, the Celtics have held opponents to 100 points or fewer in 10 of their last 16 games. Opponents are averaging a league-low 97.6 points per game over that stretch, shooting a league-worst 42.0% from the field.
With a 54-41 advantage in total rebounds, the Celtics are now 29-7 when outrebounding their opponent.
The offensive rebounding has been just as important
The offensive rebounding has been just as crucial to the Celtics’ success, as highlighted Monday night.
Boston grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, posting a 38.2% offensive rebounding percentage. Those boards led to 17 extra shots and 15 second-chance points.
This season, Boston ranks fifth in offensive rebounding percentage (35.1%) and third in second-chance points per game (17.3).
They have consistently dominated the offensive glass, helping them win those ever-so-valuable margins. It has become a defining part of the Celtics’ identity.
Derrick White is starting to knock down his shots
It’s been an up-and-down shooting year for Derrick White, who is shooting a career-low 38.9% from the field and 33.0% from three, the lowest mark since the year he was traded to Boston. Of course, part of that is that he is shooting a career-high 15.2 shots a game, 8.8 of which are coming from three.
However, White appears to be heating up a little bit.
Over his last five games, he is shooting 21-of-51 (41.2%) from three. He has made at least four three-pointers in each of those games, his longest streak of the season.
White could be the biggest beneficiary if Jayson Tatum returns from injury. With Tatum operating more as the pick-and-roll ball handler, White would have more catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he thrives.
A quick shoutout to Luka Garza
Garza has seen his minutes evaporate following the Nikola Vucevic trade, which is unfortunate given how well he had played since being reinserted into the rotation.
However, with Neemias Queta resting, Garza answered the bell as the first big off the bench. In 19 minutes, he finished with seven points, 10 rebounds (seven offensive), and an assist, bringing the energy he’s shown all season.
If called upon down the stretch, Garza has shown he can be trusted to provide depth.