Why Joe Mazzulla Didn’t Call Final Timeout During Celtics-Knicks Game 2? Boston Head Coach Explains!

The Boston Celtics repeated same mistakes in a 91-90 loss on Wednesday in Game 2 and the Knicks dropped another 20-point comeback to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was another fourth quarter downfall for the defending champions and they head to MSG on the verge of elimination.

In the late third quarter, the Celtics held a 73-53 lead through a 16-6 run. The drama started in the fourth quarter when New York outscored Boston 30-17 to close the game. With 12 seconds left in the game, Joe Mazzulla didn’t call a timeout when the Celtics were one point down. The Celtics head coach explained the reason behind his decision to not take a timeout.

Also Read: NBA Playoffs Celtics vs Knicks Game 2: Knicks Drop Another 20-Point Comeback against Celtics to Go 2-0 Heading to MSG

Why Celtics Coach Didn’t Call Timeout Late in Fourth Quarter?

With 24 seconds left in the game, Joe Mazzulla called a timeout when Knicks had a 89-88 lead. Jayson Tatum helped Boston to regain the crucial 90-89 lead with a driving dunk over New York center Mitchell Robinson.

Brunson entered the game for McBride and Towns entered the game for Robinson. On next possession, Jalen Brunson attempted both free foul shots and sank them to put Knicks ahead in the game with one point. With just 12.7 ticks on the clock, the Knicks jumped to a 91-90 lead.

Joe Mazzulla, Boston head coach didn’t call a timeout but Jayson Tatum still had a chance to win it for the Celtics. Mikal Bridges’ clutch steal with two seconds left helped Knicks to cross the line. Meanwhile, Mazzulla had a answer on not taking second timeout in the final seconds.

“(We) got a good look on 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,” Mazzulla spoke to the reporters post-game. “We weren’t able to get the advantage that we had on the last Tatum dunk. So (a) good full-court setting, they subbed out (Karl-Anthony) Towns, we weren’t able to sub out Brunson, had action there, and just didn’t execute.”

“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,” Mazzulla said. “Ran out of time.”

Mazzulla accepted mistakes and credited the Knicks for pulling off a comeback in fourth quarter. Celtics’ poor 3-point shooting haunted them in the second half. Boston was 10 for 40 from 3-point range after going 15 for 60 in Game 1.

“Yeah, they made every play, and I said, even throughout the end of the third (quarter), beginning of the fourth quarter, I thought we generated some good looks, and then I thought we had some live ball turnovers, and they took advantage of it,” Mazzulla said. “They made the necessary plays to win. We put ourselves in position to do that, and we just didn’t make the plays.”

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Team after going 2-0 down in the playoff series have won just 7% of the postseason series and Boston are in huge pressure. It’s a golden chance for the Knicks to complete the historic series sweep at MSG. The Celtics and Knicks will take on each other on Saturday for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.

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