Joe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”
Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.
Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.
Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
ESPNJan 13, 2026, 01:18 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsJoe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.In fact, he used just two of them. On repeat.Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What’d you say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Illegal screen?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What do you want people to know about that?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?
Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?
The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.
ESPNJan 13, 2026, 01:18 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsJoe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.In fact, he used just two of them. On repeat.Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What’d you say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Illegal screen?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What do you want people to know about that?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
ESPNJan 13, 2026, 01:18 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsJoe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.In fact, he used just two of them. On repeat.Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What’d you say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Illegal screen?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What do you want people to know about that?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
ESPNJan 13, 2026, 01:18 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsJoe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.In fact, he used just two of them. On repeat.Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What’d you say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Illegal screen?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What do you want people to know about that?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
ESPNJan 13, 2026, 01:18 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsJoe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.In fact, he used just two of them. On repeat.Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What’d you say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Illegal screen?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What do you want people to know about that?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
ESPNJan 13, 2026, 01:18 AM ETOpen Extended ReactionsJoe Mazzulla didn’t mince words after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.In fact, he used just two of them. On repeat.Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: “Illegal screen.”Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What’d you say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Illegal screen?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: What do you want people to know about that?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Question: Is there anything else you would like to say?Mazzulla: Illegal screen.Mazzulla’s likely point of contention came in the closing seconds, when Pacers star Pascal Siakam set a screen at the top of the 3-point arc, causing Derrick White to lose his balance.Siakam got the ball back from Andrew Nembhard, pump-faked and stepped inside the foul line for the high-arcing leaner that banked through with 6.1 seconds to give Indiana the 98-96 win.The Celtics have had recent issues with officiating.Earlier Monday, star Jaylen Brown was fined $35,000 by the NBA after he criticized the officiating following the team’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.