Celtics’ bench rewards Joe Mazzulla’s faith again in win over Rockets

Joe Mazzulla made a few tweaks during the second quarter of the Celtics’ Sunday victory over the Rockets.

In the first half, Mazzulla replaced Jayson Tatum with 6:20 left. Jaylen Brown was replaced by him after about sixty seconds. It was unusual for the

star tandem of the Celtics to finish the second quarter on the bench. It is unusual for them to not both finish the half and uncommon for them to be on

the bench together.

However, Mazzulla might have viewed it as a chance to snatch some sleep away from his stars because of the impending back-to-back in Dallas on

Monday night. The rotations were also altered on Sunday due to the absence of Jrue Holiday (wrist) and Al Horford (rest). However, it also

demonstrated Mazzulla’s confidence in his reserves.

Sam Hauser (who began Sunday in place of Holiday), Payton Pritchard, Oshae Brissett, and starters Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White were all on

the court for Mazzulla’s last 5:28 of the first half. By halftime, the unit had helped the Celtics extend their lead from eight to fifteen points.

The Celtics’ impressive first half was crucial since the C’s played another lackluster second half, even though Porzingis and White carried the most of

the scoring. In the first half, Hauser led the club in plus-19 points while contributing three 3-pointers, three assists, and solid defense. Shortly after

Tatum was replaced in the second quarter, Pritchard scored a huge 3-pointer with the shot clock buzzer in hand and added four more assists. In the

first half, they each played more minutes than Tatum and Brown. Luke Kornet and Brissett both contributed energy throughout the first half, which

allowed the Celtics to lead by 19 points at the half in second-chance points.

We didn’t have our best energy early on, in my opinion,” Porzingis said to reporters in Houston. It was a combination of our skill and skill that gave us

the lead. I believe Joe always stresses the need for us to play hard and be there on every possession, regardless of our level of talent. This is what he

was trying to pull out of us. That second unit, Sam and Payton, came in with a lot of energy and kind of lit a spark for us, and that’s why I believe he

performed those subs. That altered the game’s flow slightly, as they led 15 at halftime.

This is an excellent game to help us realize that we must always have that energy. We need as many people as possible every night, but if not, another

guy will come in and bring it.

Another bench player came up after the Celtics allowed a 17-point advantage to be down to three points early in the fourth quarter. Kornet started the

game as a double-big substitution for Mazzulla, and he ignited the crowd right away. He stopped Dillon Brooks at the rim, and a few seconds later, he

swatted away another attempt from Brooks, setting up Pritchard for a three-pointer as the Celtics took back control. Kornet’s tip-in later in the fourth

quarter contributed to the victory.

Together, Hauser, Pritchard, Kornet, and Brissett—the Celtics’ usual bench players—scored 32 points, 20 rebounds (nine offensive), 14 assists, and

five blocks. The Celtics needed help elsewhere on a night when they were without two key players and Tatum and Brown were having trouble shooting

when Ime Udoka placed pressure on them. Again, their bench performed well.

That’s the reason you think so highly of them and why you trust them,” Mazzulla said to reporters in Houston. “You need their assistance to win

games like that. There will be evenings over the long year when you’re not feeling your best, but those men were amazing. That’s really significant.

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