Additional Coverage:
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t in the mood for a lengthy post-game analysis after his team’s nail-biting 98-96 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. In fact, he kept his commentary remarkably concise, opting for a two-word mantra repeated six times: “Illegal screen.”
Following the last-second defeat in Indianapolis, Mazzulla was peppered with questions from reporters. To inquiries ranging from “Take us through the last couple of possessions?” to “Is there anything else you would like to say?”, his response remained steadfast: “Illegal screen.”
It’s clear Mazzulla’s ire was directed at a pivotal play in the game’s waning moments. With just 6.1 seconds on the clock, Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc. The contact caused Celtics guard Derrick White to stumble, allowing Siakam to receive the ball, pump-fake, and sink a game-winning leaner from inside the foul line.
This isn’t the first time the Celtics have voiced concerns about officiating. Just prior to Monday’s game, Celtics star Jaylen Brown was hit with a $35,000 fine by the NBA for his public criticism of the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.