Boston Celtics’ game against the Indiana Pacers appeared to many as a scheduled loss as Joe Mazzulla decided to make Jaylen Brown unavailable due to injury management. The team did not play like it. The match was undecided until something ‘illegal’ happened according to the coach.
The struggling Pacers went toe-to-toe with the formidable foe and got the victory in the last second through a floater from Pascal Siakam.
PASCAL SIAKAM HITS THE FLOATER TO GIVE INDY THE WIN 🚨
3 straight wins for the Pacers! pic.twitter.com/3JqfrwJMmV
— NBA (@NBA) January 13, 2026
The Pacers forward left around 3 seconds on the clock but they were not enough for the Celtics to operate and find a good shot.
Pacers recorded their third straight win while Celtics suffer their second straight defeat. Both games were allegedly marred by poor officiating.
Joe Mazzulla is frustrated during presscon
Mazzulla was not like the normal person one can talk to during the press conference as he was visibly upset by the result. Or at least the way it was ended. Reporters threw various questions but all his answers were “illegal screen”.
Pacers beat the Celtics tonight on a late bucket from Pascal Siakam.
Joe Mazzulla had the same answer for every single postgame question:
“Illegal screen.” pic.twitter.com/vyZQNjGCl1
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) January 13, 2026
The players involved in the play were Siakam, Derrick White, and Andrew Nembhard. Siakam was able to switch on a smaller defender after his teammate downed White who recovered but the height difference was just too much.
Looks like Mazzulla tried to zip his lips and prevented himself from saying anything that could earn himself a fine after Brown just got asked to pay $35,000 for his comments about officiating in loss to Spurs.
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