The Boston Celtics saw their five-game winning streak end Sunday after a 111-89 loss to the New York Knicks, and head coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to execution and physicality as key factors following the Eastern Conference matchup.
Boston shot 37% from the field and 7-of-41 from three-point range, and Mazzulla said missed opportunities added pressure against a team sitting alongside the Celtics near the top of the standings. “When you play against a great team like them and and you continue to have empty possessions on the offensive end, but a good process of execution just puts a ton of pressure on the other stuff,” he said.
The Celtics cut the deficit to five during the third quarter, yet New York responded with a decisive run behind Jalen Brunson, who scored 31 points. “You can only hold down the fort for so long,” the Boston coach said. “We can shoot a little bit better, we can get some more offensive rebounds. We can execute a little bit better.”
Jaylen Brown led the home side with 26 points, while Derrick White added 19, but the visitors built an 85-68 edge entering the fourth after closing the third period on a 20-7 surge. Mazzulla said the game’s physical tone did not shift his team’s focus despite stretches without whistles. “It was a rock fight, high physical game and so you’re going to have stretches of that,” he said. “Our defense didn’t wane… we just got to continue to execute better uh rebound better.”
The Celtics generated open looks but struggled to convert, something Mazzulla linked to spacing and screening rather than only shot variance. “We can get better at executing we can get better at screening. We can get better at our spacing. We can get better at creating easy ones,” he said. “That’s… I wouldn’t say that’s the primary one but it played played a part in it.”
New York’s off-ball movement also tested Boston’s rotations, especially when the defense sent help toward Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns. “That just allows for them to get two-on-ones… it does create space, you know, for their guys to be able to play,” Mazzulla said.
Rookie Baylor Scheierman finished with 10 points, a career-high 13 rebounds, and five assists, drawing praise from the coaching staff. “His rebounding outside of his area is a big one… he’s playing at a great level for us defensively,” Mazzulla said.
Boston experimented again with lineup combinations, including double-big minutes with Luka Garza and Neemias Queta. “Everybody on our roster has a chance to impact winning… nothing changes in our approach,” Mazzulla said.
With both teams holding identical 34-19 records behind the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, Mazzulla emphasized that the matchup offered a playoff-like measuring stick. “There’s a level of physicality and execution that’s required when you play against great teams… tonight they took it to that level,” he said.
The Knicks will host Indiana next, while Boston returns home Wednesday to face Chicago before the rivals meet again April 9 in New York.
