Head coach Joe Mazzulla deflected credit when asked about the result, emphasizing the team over any individual. “It says nothing about me. It says everything about the team,” he said, highlighting the cohesion, system, and locker-room culture that fueled the victory despite resting most rotation players.
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The third quarter was decisive, as Boston’s reserves hit shot after shot. Scheierman connected from multiple spots beyond the arc, Harper Jr. attacked the rim, and Garza finished inside, pushing the Celtics to their largest lead of 16 points and energizing the home crowd.
Orlando rallied in the fourth, trimming a 16-point deficit, and Franz Wagner and Suggs each missed key late looks to force a final tie. Garza then created space on the inbound and drilled a contested three with 31 seconds remaining to restore a two-possession margin, and Boston held on to secure the win.
The result capped a strong close to the regular season for Boston, who finished 56-26 and ride a 13-3 run into the playoffs. The Celtics will open the first round at home on Sunday, facing the winner of the play-in game between Orlando and Philadelphia, with Boston players returning to full health and rest after a milestone performance from the bench.
Looking ahead, Boston enters the postseason with depth reaffirmed and a roster that has shown it can win even when key players are sidelined. The Celtics’ leadership and culture were underscored by Mazzulla’s stance that the result reflected team-wide effort and buy-in, not individual praise. The playoff picture now shifts to a focused, healthy, and motivated Boston squad.
