In what lasted no more than 44 seconds, Mazzulla answered each question asked during his presser with the words 'illegal screen,' which was in reference to a pick set by Pacers star Pascal Siakam that helped him get the matchup he wanted leading up to his game-winning bank shot to put Indiana ahead.
The likely play in question occurred in a 96-96 tie game with 28 seconds left to play. Andrew Nembhard dribbled out a good amount of the shot clock at the top of the key before getting a screen from Siakam that forced the smaller Derrick White to switch onto him. Siakam was able to shake White off him with a spin move at the free throw line and banked in a shot to give the Pacers the eventual game-winning basket.
Siakam in good position at first, abruptly sticks out his rear end making contact with White as Nembhard uses the screen creating the space needed to get the ball in the spot Siakam wanted to make the play.
Despite other questions having nothing to do with that sequence, Mazzulla still answered with the same two words until he finally walked off the podium in an uneventful ending to his somewhat protest of the officiating.
Boston still had a chance for the win after the Siakam shot, but White missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer as time expired -- handing Boston it's second-straight loss and their third in the last four games.
The Celtics have attempted to send messages to officials after recent lack of foul calls, with All-Star Jaylen Brown getting fined $35,000 by the NBA on Monday afternoon for his comments and rant after the team's 100-95 loss to the Spurs on Saturday. Mazzulla decided to take a lesser approach to deliver a similar message last night that won't likely lead to a fine from the league but definitely brings more attention to the matter.
Meanwhile in another twist of events, the NBA says officials did miss an offensive foul call on the same Siakam play with 15 seconds left, stating that the Pacers forward was "late to establish a screening position in White's path and does not give him the time or distance to change direction and avoid the contact during the pick," in the League's Last Two-Minute Report released late Tuesday afternoon.
The Celtics at 24-15 are still a game in front of the Toronto Raptors for the third best record in the East and one game behind the second place New York Knicks. They'll look to bounce back Thursday when they face the Miami Heat (20-19) in their second of a four-game road trip.
Joel Pavón
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