Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla shared his thoughts on his team’s tough 108-105 overtime loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Despite leading by 20 points at one point, the Celtics were unable to maintain their advantage, allowing the Knicks to mount a comeback and steal a victory at TD Garden.
When asked about his team’s three-point-heavy second half, Mazzulla acknowledged that while the shot selection was not perfect, the overall process was solid. “I think for the most part, we fought for good looks,” Mazzulla said. “But I think there are always five to ten shots that we could be better at.”
The game took a dramatic turn after Boston built a 75-55 lead in the third quarter. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, responded with a 20-9 run to cut the deficit to single digits. New York’s defensive adjustments and timely shooting in the final stretch, especially Anunoby’s critical contributions, forced Boston to scramble.
Mazzulla reflected on the Knicks’ late-game adjustments, noting that they were able to capitalize on some key opportunities. “We left some of their good shooters open,” he said. “Anunoby went on a small run by himself… they were able to get out in transition off of our misses, and they had a 5-0 run off of offensive rebounds.”
Another key moment came at the end of overtime, where Mazzulla had to make a quick decision regarding a timeout with three seconds left. “In regulation, when you call it, they’re taking both Towns and Brunson out of the game,” Mazzulla explained. “I felt like we had speed to get something with two seconds left… so we used it there.”
On the final play of overtime, with the Celtics down three, Mazzulla’s strategy focused on giving Jaylen Brown a chance to catch and shoot. “Jaylen’s great in space… he was able to get some good separation, but Bridges made a good play,” Mazzulla said, acknowledging the Knicks’ defense as a factor in the game’s outcome.
The loss was also compounded by the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, who left the game in the first half due to illness. Mazzulla confirmed that he had not seen Porzingis since the game ended, but emphasized that while his absence was impactful, it was not an excuse. “It obviously changes matchups and play-call frequency,” Mazzulla said. “But we had plenty of opportunities to win.”
Looking ahead to Game 2, Mazzulla remains focused on process and improvement. “Whether you win or lose, there are things to get better at,” he said. “We’ll look at the attention to detail stuff… and we’ll be better in Game 2.”
The Celtics will need to regroup quickly, as they face the Knicks again on Wednesday night for Game 2 in Boston.
