The Boston Celtics faced a critical late-game decision in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks — and it may have cost them dearly. With just 12.7 seconds left on the clock and trailing 91-90, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla opted not to use his final timeout, letting the play unfold naturally. The result? A failed drive by Jayson Tatum and a game-clinching turnover that now puts the Celtics in a daunting 0-2 series hole.
Earlier in the game, Mazzulla had called a timeout under nearly identical circumstances. With 24 seconds remaining and Boston down by one, he drew up a play that saw Tatum use a midcourt screen to get a head of steam and finish with a powerful dunk, putting Boston briefly ahead 90-89. However, New York responded with two clutch free throws from Jalen Brunson, regaining the lead and setting up the controversial finish.
This time, Mazzulla allowed the Celtics to play through, seemingly trusting the same setup that had worked just moments earlier. But the Knicks, led by their defensive-minded coach Tom Thibodeau, adjusted accordingly. Tatum again took the ball but was met with tighter pressure, ultimately losing control amid a swarm of defenders.
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According to Yahoo Sports, Mazzulla explained his thinking after the loss: “Had one [timeout] left, got a good look in the exact same play 20 seconds earlier. Tried to execute the exact same thing, they did a better job of their lower pick-up point and we weren’t able to get the advantage that we had on the last Tatum dunk.” He added that he didn’t want to give the Knicks a chance to substitute out Brunson, who is less known for his defensive abilities.
As reported by Boston Herald, Mazzulla also pointed out that time was a major factor: “You don’t know that at the point of (Tatum) was driving left. (I) thought he had a good look at an angle, didn’t shoot it. Ran out of time.” He emphasized that the Celtics had their chances, but New York executed better in the closing minutes. Boston had led by as much as 20 points late in the third quarter and still held a 16-point lead with 8:40 remaining.
The Celtics now head to Madison Square Garden, where they must win at least one of the next two games to stay alive in the series. With the crowd sure to be fired up and the Knicks gaining confidence, Boston faces an uphill battle — and their margin for error just got a lot smaller.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and statements from press conferences. All quotes and references are attributed to their respective sources. No opinions or assumptions have been added beyond the facts reported.
