The Boston Celtics secured a 113-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on Tuesday, powered by Jaylen Brown’s 35 points and nine rebounds and Jayson Tatum’s 23 points. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla highlighted the team’s defensive adjustments and player consistency in the postgame press conference.
“He just understands that when he’s at his best defensively, he’s impacting the other team’s best player. He’s creating turnovers,” Mazzulla said, emphasizing Jordan Walsh’s defensive presence agains LaMelo Ball.
Mazzulla also noted Walsh’s offensive contributions, saying, “He got some tip in tip outs, offensive rebounds for scored in the paint…he just felt more comfortable out there in playmaking.”
The coach credited the team’s third-quarter run, which turned an 11-point deficit into a 90-87 lead, to defensive execution and transition opportunities. “We got stops, get out, get some catch and shoot shots and make some plays in transition,” he explained.
Addressing the Hornets’ first-half scoring surge, Mazzulla said, “To me, it’s just a matter of what type of…we gave up two lob dunks in transition…little stuff like that. Every game’s going to be different. I thought the guys did a great job competing defensively while we just found our offensive rhythm.”
The Celtics’ reliance on consistent effort and readiness also stood out. “Just consistency…when it’s not your turn, what’s your mindset and what’s your consistency? Still chipping away at the workouts,” Mazzulla said, praising Walsh and others for maintaining focus. He added, “I think that’s why he can pick up where he left off.”
On rotations, Mazzulla explained keeping Brown on the floor for the entire second half: “I thought he was playing well…both ends of the floor…might as well stay in the game.” Looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup against the New York Knicks, Mazzulla downplayed external factors, saying, “At the end of the day, we just got to keep doing what we’re doing. Process of winning. Stick to that.”
With the win, Boston improved to 53-25, inching closer to clinching the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hornets, now 43-36, remain in a battle to avoid the play-in tournament.
