Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised his team’s composure after Thursday’s 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
“Coming off the break, I thought our guys had great attention to detail, had a great purpose to what we did,” Mazzulla said, highlighting the team’s ability to handle Golden State’s runs.
Mazzulla pointed to the Warriors’ fast-paced style, noting, “In the last 10 and a half minutes, Golden State took it to a different level. We were forced to be poised, we were forced to make plays, make shots and get stops.” He also emphasized the importance of maintaining defensive discipline throughout the game. “They test your body position, they test your angles, they test your positioning. I thought we handled that well,” he added.
The Celtics’ second-quarter surge proved decisive, as Mazzulla credited their offensive execution for limiting transition opportunities. “One of the only ways to defend these guys is with your offense… We got great shots and were able to get back on defense,” he explained.
Mazzulla also highlighted the bench performance of Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic. “Regardless of if Payton’s coming off the bench or not, he just plays at a level. Vuc is continuing… His reads versus coverages, his reads versus different screens are just getting better and that really impacts him and helps other guys as well,” Mazzulla said.
The Celtics recorded 36 assists on 49 field goals, showcasing teamwork against a top-10 defensive squad. “I thought for the majority of the game, we managed the game with our ability to execute, get a shot every possession, find a two-on-one, have great spacing, great screening,” Mazzulla noted.
Mazzulla also reflected on the postgame interaction with former teammate Al Horford. “Just grateful that I got to coach him… He had my back. We treat him with the utmost respect because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor,” he said.
Jaylen Brown’s historic triple-double drew specific praise. “We’re at our best when he defends at a high level and takes accountability in his rebounding. He did a great job tonight finding advantages for himself or for others,” Mazzulla said, acknowledging Brown’s control of pace and court vision.
The Celtics’ disciplined defense, efficient ball movement, and balanced bench contributions fueled their seventh win in eight games, improving Boston to 35-19 and solidifying second place in the Eastern Conference. Mazzulla concluded by noting the importance of continued execution. “Regardless if they start or not, they’re going to be good for us when they’re on the floor. We have to continue to find ways for them to be impactful,” he said.
