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Joe Mazzulla repeated the same two words for an entire press conference after Celtics’ loss
Mazzulla was clearly unhappy with the officiating at the end of Boston's loss to the Pacers.
A very Joe Mazzulla response: Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has long since established himself as an inimitable NBA figure, unafraid to do or say things that are out of the ordinary (be it his disclosure that he watches “The Town” on a daily basis, or his unsparing choice in October to pit coaches against reporters in the annual media game).
Still, Mazzulla’s display in Monday’s press conference following the Celtics’ 98-96 loss to the Pacers on Monday was a new chapter in his unorthodox biography.
Clearly unhappy with the officiating during a sequence at the end of the eventual defeat against Indiana — Pacers forward Pascal Siakam scored the go-ahead basket with 6.1 seconds remaining — Mazzulla could only muster two words at the postgame press conference.
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“Illegal screen,” he deadpanned to an initial question about the end of the game. Asked to clarify, he simply repeated himself. Asked an unrelated question, he responded with the same two words.
“Illegal screen.”
Mazzulla said the phrase a total of six times in a 44-second press conference before it was brought to an uneventful conclusion.
It appeared that the Celtics’ coach was referencing Siakam’s role in the play building up to his winning basket (where he set a screen on Derrick White before getting the ball back).
Criticism of the league’s officiating has been a recent theme for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 on Monday for calling the performance of referees “terrible” after a loss to the Spurs on Saturday.
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Boston (24-15) currently sits third in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, and will play the Heat on Thursday.
Trivia: What active NBA head coach has the most career wins in the league?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: He used to be head coach of the Celtics.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics lost to the Pacers 98-96 on Monday. Boston will play the Heat in Miami on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Tonight, the Bruins play the Red Wings at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Boston Fleet host the Toronto Sceptres at the Tsongas Center at 7 p.m.
The Patriots will host the Texans in the AFC divisional round on Sunday at 3 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Pascal Siakam and Pacers nip Celtics 98-96 for 1st 3-game win streak of season
- Patriots to play Houston Texans in AFC divisional round
- 4 things to know about Patriots divisional-round playoff foe Texans
- What Craig Breslow said about Red Sox losing Alex Bregman sweepstakes to Cubs
- Finally given NHL shot, Bruins’ Jonathan Aspirot has been difference-maker on defense
- Anfernee Jennings made the most of his biggest opportunity of the season against the Chargers
- Jaylen Brown fined $35,000 by NBA after ripping officials following loss to Spurs
- Celtics reportedly showing trade interest in Mavericks big man
- Mike Vrabel on the ‘critical’ play vs. the Chargers, the Patriots’ identity, and the state of his bloody lip
Some mic’d up Patriots soundbites: Here’s an enjoyable sequence taken from the end of the Patriots’ defensively dominant win over the Chargers.
On this day: In 1961, the Celtics defeated the Warriors 123-121 in what Boston Globe Celtics reporter Jack Barry described as “the most spectacular game of the season.”
Philadelphia star Wilt Chamberlain scored 30 points with 35 rebounds, but couldn’t overcome the combined efforts of Sam Jones (34 points) and Bill Russell (34 rebounds).
Daily highlight: Here’s a nice assist from White followed by an emphatic slam from Neemias Queta.
Trivia answer: Doc Rivers
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