Boston Celtics Struggle Without Jayson Tatum

Despite the absence of star player Jayson Tatum, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury, the Boston Celtics managed to secure a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference standings as of Tuesday.

However, the team faced another setback on Monday, narrowly losing to the Indiana Pacers with a score of 98-96. After the game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula held his typical postgame press conference but seemed to dismiss almost all questions from the media.

When asked about the last play of the game, Mazzula simply stated, “An illegal screen,” and repeated this short answer for follow-up questions.

Mazzula appeared to be referencing the moment when Pacers forward Pascal Siakam outmaneuvered Celtics guard Derrick White for a crucial score.

It seems the Celtics coach was hinting that an illegal screen should have been called on Siakam during that play. Coaches in the NBA who openly criticize referees can risk fines, and Mazzula’s terse comments might have been a way to avoid further penalties.

Back in August 2025, Mazzula signed a three-year contract extension with the Celtics. He had previously led the team to win the NBA title in 2024 and had a successful coaching record, finishing his first three seasons with at least 57 wins each year.

The Celtics are set to resume their season on Thursday, heading to South Florida to face the Miami Heat.