After his Celtics fell to the Indiana Pacers 133-131, a defeat punctuated by controversial officiating decisions, a visibly frustrated Joe Mazzulla took to the dais.
“I can’t wait until four o’clock tomorrow,” the agitated bench boss said with a wry smile. “Buddy Hield told me that he fouled him [Jaylen Brown], so I can’t wait for the last two-minute report.”
The play in question occurred with just 3.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of a tie game. Brown attempted to pull up for a 14-foot baseline jumper and missed. However, Hield clearly hit Brown in the back of the head as he attempted to block the shot from behind, and was called for a shooting foul.
Rick Carlisle and the Pacers challenged the foul and were successful, with the officials deeming it was a clear block.
“He obviously hit me in the head,” Brown exclaimed irritably after the game. “We definitely need to do some investigation, that’s all I’m gonna say. I think that was an obvious one. I’ve never heard of the head [is] part of the ball. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Instead of having a chance to break the tie in the waning seconds, Indiana took possession – and got the ball to Bennedict Mathurin, who was fouled by Kristaps Porzingis from behind the three-point line with 0.6 seconds left. Mathurin made two of his free throws to give Indiana a two-point lead.
Mathurin missed the third free throw, giving the Celtics one last chance, but a Luke Kornet tip-in attempt off an inbound pass from Derrick White rolled out as time expired.
“That cost our team the game, and you expect us not to be frustrated?” Brown added postgame. “We’re trying to build good habits. We’re trying to win as many games as possible. And we just dropped one because of that. I feel like we got the right to be upset.”
With the loss, the Celtics dropped to 28-8 on the season and 11-8 on the road. The loss also marked just the third time (including playoffs) in the Mazzulla era that the Celtics lost a game in which they shot 40% or better from three-point range.
Here are three takeaways from a game that featured 26 lead changes and 15 ties, as the Celtics drop a strange one.
Another third quarter collapse
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – the Celtics blew a game in the third quarter.
In seven of Boston’s eight losses this season, they have been outscored in the third quarter. For most of the season, it’s been more of an offensive issue, but Monday night was the defense.
Late in the first half, Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton slipped when attempting to drive to the rim, injuring his hamstring. The 23-year-old, who leads the league in assists per game (12.7) by a wide margin, was in noticeable pain and was carried off the floor by teammates with a towel draped over his head.
The team called the injury a left hamstring strain, and the All-Star guard would not return.
Haliburton is the catalyst of the Indiana offense. According to Cleaning The Glass, the Pacers have posted a 126.3 offensive rating with Haliburton on the floor, and a 115.5 when he is off the court -- an incredibly drastic dip.
Even with Haliburton out, the Celtics had no answer for the Indiana offense.
The hosts knocked down nine of their first 10 shots coming out of the break, en route to a 44-point third quarter in which they shot 15-of-22 (68.2%) from the floor and 4-of-7 (57.1%) from distance.
The 44 points surrendered by the Celtics in the frame are their most allowed in any quarter this season and marked just the third time the C’s gave up 40 or more points in a quarter. Two of those three quarters have come in the third.
“We all have to be better on defense,” Mazzulla said postgame. “No 25-point quarters and a 44-point quarter isn’t good enough for us to win. So we all have to be better in that.”
In total, the Celtics gave up 74 points to the Haliburton-less Pacers offense in the second half, tying their season-high for most allowed in any half. It was this very Pacers team that dropped 74 in the second half of Boston’s loss in the Quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament.
Forty-three of Indiana’s 74 second-half points came from its bench.
“I think maybe we don’t come with the energy that we should,” Jrue Holiday said on the team’s third quarter woes postgame. “I think that’s probably the biggest thing.”
The Celtics are 19-1 this season when winning or tying the third quarter, with their only loss coming to the Warriors.
On the other hand, Boston is 9-7 when losing the third quarter.
Beat themselves
Despite turning the ball over 17 times (resulting in 24 points) and shooting 10-of-19 (52.6%) at the free throw line Saturday night, the Celtics were able to pull off a victory.
That was not the case Monday night.
Boston turned the ball over 15 times resulting in 20 points for the hosts. Once again, it also jumpstarted Indiana’s transition attack.
In four of Boston’s eight losses this season, they have turned the ball over at least 14 times.
Additionally, the Celtics shot 20-of-29 (69%) from the free throw line. Over their last two games, the Celtics are 30-of-48 (62.5%) from the charity stripe. For reference, the worst free-throw-shooting team in the league is the Kings, who shoot 72.9%.
Free throw shooting hasn’t been a problem for the Celtics in the past, but it’s been a glaring issue over the last two games.
While the ending was certainly frustrating, surrendering 44 points in a quarter and missing nine free throws in a two-point game makes all the difference.
Jaylen Brown steps up again
Brown was nothing short of spectacular on Monday, as the soon-to-be three-time All-Star made the right plays almost all night.
In the absence of Jayson Tatum (ankle), Brown stepped up big for the Celtics, pouring in a season-high 40 points on 17-of-26 (65.4%) from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) from deep. The All-NBA wing also grabbed five boards and dished out two assists. Notably, Brown dominated in the paint, scoring a season-high 24 points on 80% shooting (12-of-15).
Twenty-five of Brown’s 40 points came in the first half, marking the sixth time in his career he recorded at least 25 first half points.
The 27-year-old took what the Pacers gave him, while also impacting the game with his cutting and defense.
In the three games Tatum has missed this season, Brown has consistently risen to the occasion, amassing a total of 99 points on 39-of-63 (61.9%) shooting, 14 assists, 20 rebounds, and registering a +33 plus-minus.
Having signed the richest contract in NBA history during the offseason, Brown has not only met but has exceeded expectations. The former number-three pick is currently playing the best basketball of his career, proving to be worth every penny.
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