Boston Celtics Narrowly Defeated by Indiana Pacers
After the Boston Celtics faced a narrow defeat against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, head coach Joe Mazzulla had a singular message for the media:
“Illegal screen.”
Mazzulla’s frustration was palpable as he reiterated this phrase multiple times when discussing a pivotal moment in the game involving Pascal Siakam, who set a controversial screen on the play that led to the Pacers’ game-winning basket.
Game Highlights
The incident occurred when Siakam set a pick for Andrew Nembhard as the Pacers clawed their way to a 98-96 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Nembhard quickly returned the ball to Siakam, who then maneuvered past Celtics guard Derrick White and scored with a bank shot just seconds remaining on the clock. Mazzulla, however, took issue with the legality of Siakam’s screen, believing it contributed significantly to the outcome of the match.
Mazzulla’s Frustration
In a postgame interview, Mazzulla responded to every query with a variation of
“illegal screen,”
showcasing his irritation without delving into other aspects of the game. This incident adds to the mounting tensions within the Celtics organization regarding officiating, particularly coming on the heels of Jaylen Brown’s public outburst following their previous game against the San Antonio Spurs, where he also criticized the referees extensively.
Brown’s Outburst and Consequences
In that prior confrontation, Brown was vocally displeased with the officiating after the Celtics only attempted four free throws during the game, leading him to declare,
“I’ll accept the fine at this point. I thought it was some bulls**t tonight.”
His comments led to a $35,000 fine from the NBA on Monday.
Player Performances
On the court, Siakam’s performance included 21 points and eight rebounds, leading the Pacers to their third consecutive win despite their overall struggle this season with a 9-31 record. Jay Huff and Nembhard contributed significantly as well, scoring 20 and 13 points, respectively. For the Celtics, Payton Pritchard topped the scoresheet with 23 points and eight assists, while White and Anfernee Simons added 18 and 16 points, respectively. The loss marked the Celtics’ third defeat in their last four games, leaving Mazzulla and the team grappling with both player performance and external critiques of refereeing decisions.
