Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla lost his cool Thursday night, needing to be held back by staff after a frustrating loss to the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden.
The meltdown came after Boston’s shocking fourth-quarter collapse, where they were outscored 35-22 by the Bulls.
What really set Mazzulla off? A series of technical fouls called on him, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum in the crucial final minutes.
When the final buzzer sounded, Mazzulla charged onto the court, making a beeline for referee Justin Van Duyne. Staff members had to physically restrain him from confronting the official.
Later, when reporters asked about the incident, Mazzulla tried to play it off with some holiday humor.
“I haven’t seen them in a while, so just a ‘Merry Christmas’ and a ‘Happy Holiday,'” he said with obvious sarcasm. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to see them before the holiday, and I just can’t let somebody go by without wishing them the best to them and theirs and their families.”
But video footage told a different story, capturing Mazzulla shouting expletives at Van Duyne.
The good news for Boston? They won’t have to wait long for a chance at revenge.
The Celtics head to Chicago’s United Center on Saturday, where they’ve actually won their last three games. They’ll be looking to keep an impressive streak alive – they haven’t lost two games in a row since late last season.
The team’s recent schedule might explain some of Thursday’s rustiness. They’ve only played twice in the last 11 days, which clearly threw off their rhythm.
Despite this hiccup, oddsmakers still love Boston’s chances. They’re the clear favorites to win it all this year, potentially becoming the first back-to-back champs since Golden State did it in 2017-18.
