NBA Notebook: Celtics still have a crunch time issue entering playoffs

De'Aaron Fox missed a mid-ranger trailing by one before the buzzer following an 8-for-14 half. Keegan Murray and Colby Jones barely missed tip-ins around the basket that would've won the game. On the other end, one possession earlier, Sam Hauser tipped the ball away from Murray after the Kings wing blocked him, bouncing it to Xavier Tillman Sr., who barreled for a game-winning floater. Joe Mazzulla unsuccessfully tried to call timeout as he drove. The randomness of crunch time. 

The Kings had entered 9-3 in one-point games decided in the last 10 seconds, tied for second in the NBA, yet lost at the buzzer to a Celtics lineup that included Svi Mykhailiuk, Oshae Brissett, Payton Pritchard, Hauser and Tillman. Some luck is involved over the smallest possible sample size. 

"I try to go to church every Sunday," Kings head coach Mike Brown said pre-game, asked by Boston Sports Journal to assess Sacramento's last-second success. "We tell them to play fast, play physical and play for each other and they try to do a good job ... then you got a guy like Fox who has stepped up late in games, (Domantas Sabonis) has stepped up late in games and Malik (Monk) has stepped up late in games. We do it by committee and got enough stops to figure out how to get it done." 

Boston improved to 3-7 in that situation with its regulars on the bench, who will have to find a way to simulate and improve themselves with the regular season effectively over. Their likely last chance to pull off a win in the last minute at Atlanta with all the starters playing resulted in Jayson Tatum draining 20 seconds off the clock before Wes Matthews took a foul and blew up the ensuing backcourt play the Celtics have ran at least twice before over the last two seasons. Tatum ended up tossing away a fadeaway three, falling to 1-for-6 in the final 10 seconds of one-point games. He's shooting 2-for-8 in the final minute of one-point games, while the Celtics had only won four out of the 12 nights that reached that point prior to Tillman's put-back on Friday. 

Mazzulla mostly shrugged after the first of the two Atlanta games, which similarly resulted in a sloppy crunch-time finish after the Celtics blew a 30-point lead earlier in the half. Jaylen Brown made a go-ahead shot from the mid-range with 1:17 remaining, the same way he did to end overtime two nights later after Tatum's heave, but he also contributed to the lack of execution, draining away the entirety of the shot clock one possession later before tossing up a long three that missed. Brown is shooting 2-for-8 in the final minute, like Tatum, and 1-for-3 in the last 10 seconds of one-point games. 

"Shot-making and getting to the free throw line," Mazzulla said, asked after the second game what makes teams successful in the final minute. "You saw the shots (Dejounte) Murray hit, you saw the shots we hit. There were no layups in the entire overtime. You aren't getting a layup, or very few of those. You gotta be able to make shots, you gotta be able to create separation, you gotta play through physicality, you gotta try to get to the free throw line and you gotta make shots. So I thought they just made a few more shots than us, but (the game) came down to those second-chance points." 

Tatum also chalked up his own late-game lapses to missing shots and embraced wanting to take them each night while being willing to watch the ball go in a different direction as it did to end overtime at Atlanta. Derrick White went directly to Kristaps Porzingis in the post on an option play where Tatum drew the defense high. The Hawks collapsed on Porzingis who tossed the ball to Brown at the elbow, who made a tough pull-up two with little space before Murray won the game on the following shot. The play both showcased the make-miss element to the end of games that Mazzulla described and the virtue of becoming less predictable in those situations. 

Part of Mazzulla's straightforward approach to those situations comes down to desiring to get a shot attempt off at all costs, not wanting to turn the ball over or give the other team a chance in a tie game, while saving enough time for a put-back while trailing on the final possession. The latter a lesson from last postseason, where the Celtics botched Game 4 at Philadelphia by not getting an attempt off while Mazzulla watched the final possession, which lasted 19 seconds, dwindle away to end overtime. Boston showed growth in the following series in the biggest moment, Game 6 at Miami, by unloading a three so quickly through Marcus Smart to end the fourth that Derrick White had enough time to put the shot back in to force Game 7. 

Tatum took three shots in the final minute of close playoff games last spring, Robert Williams III and Smart each tried a pair, while White and Brown took one each in what resulted as a 1-5 postseason in one-possession games in the final two minutes. White, like Tatum, joked that the Celtics should just try to make every shot and they'd be fine on Wednesday. Al Horford, when pressed, admitted that Boston could use more variety in the clutch. 

"We definitely have to be better in those moments, continuing to play to our strengths and making sure we take advantage of everything that we have," he said. "Everything in the regular season, I feel like for us, is information. We take the good, the bad, everything and it's making sure that we're learning and understanding, being in those positions, up, down, whatever it is, all of that is going to help us prepare ... it's just continuing to do what we need. At times, it might be isolation, at times, it might be moving the ball to fight for the best shot that we possibly can. That's something that Joe always talks about ... I guess I should say continuing to read the game, especially late. Teams are going to throw different things at us and we just have to be ready." 

Widening out the definition of crunch time, a five-point game or less with under five minutes to go, shows a team improved at separating late over one year ago. The Celtics went 21-12 in those games in 2024 with a +15.4 net rating after only outscoring opponents by four points per 100 possessions despite a similar record in 2023. Each minute later, and point closer, the ending gets, the worse Boston looks though, a stat originally highlighted by Chris Forsberg. The Celtics are 16-12 in four-point games under four minutes, 13-12 in three-point games under three minutes and 10-11 in two-point games under two minutes. Those record went 17-12, 16-12 and 13-12 last year, respectively, with similar results in the final minute (7-11) and 10 seconds (6-10).

By contrast, Ime Udoka's Celtics went 7-14 in the final minute of one-point games while Brad Stevens' last team finished 10-8. Stevens notably ran sensational sets late in games. The common thread since about 2020 became Tatum dominating those possessions, and while through Mar. 6 his 10-for-36 efficiency (27.8%) actually stood up as good if not better than any NBA star in the final five seconds of one possession contests, only he and DeMar DeRozan have dominated the shot attempt totals to the degree they have. That's made Boston more predictable and finding a solution to that falls on Mazzulla, who hasn't at least publicly identified crunch time as a problem for the Celtics entering the playoffs. They're running out of time to solve it. 

Fortunately, the solution might be right in front of them in how they play the entire game prior, outscoring opponents by 11.9 points per 100 possessions by running, passing, attacking the offensive glass and finding the best mismatch. Many wonder why Boston gets away from what it does all game late, slowing from a 97.95 pace to 93.68 in crunch time -- last among the league's 30 teams. That'll be the defining question we ask if they lose in the playoffs.

"If we get it off the glass, we want to go," Mike Brown said, describing the Kings' late-game offense. "In this league, especially the way that the game is being called now, you want to try to attack a defense that's not set. If you're up four and there's a minute and change left, I may slow them down, but for the most part, we try to play the way we play no matter what, because we don't want to go against a set defense in a 1-2 possession ball game if we can help it." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta (36-41): Bogdan Bogdanovic and Quin Snyder engaged in a sideline argument during what became an important play-in preview win over the Bulls on Monday. Both Bogdanovic and Snyder downplayed the spat, calling it a normal example of how much they both care before Atlanta beat the Pistons and lost at Dallas to finish the week only 0.5 games back of Chicago for home court in the 9-10 game later this month. The Hawks also officially clinched a postseason spot with Brooklyn's elimination. Basketball Reference gives Atlanta a 20.5% chance of seeing Boston round one, the third-highest of any opponent. Jalen Johnson (ankle) returned with his first career triple-double against Detroit. Trae Young (finger) remains without a timeline to return.

Boston (61-16): Clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and four straight wins over the Pelicans, Hornets, Thunder and Kings saw them flex their strongest defensive muscle they have all season. Jaylen Brown injured his left hand and played through it against Charlotte and Oklahoma City, sitting on Friday after Joe Mazzulla affirmed Brown is fine and won't miss the rest of the regular season. Jaden Springer (knee) missed four of the last five games, but said he could be available Sunday after dealing with inflammation. Mazzulla won coach of the week. Al Horford received a nomination for teammate of the year. Jrue Holiday became extension-eligible on Apr. 1. Neemias Queta and the Maine Celtics beat Delaware in the second round of the playoffs, their first postseason win in seven years. Sources consider Queta in play for the 15th and final Celtics roster spot before the season ends. Maine hosts the Long Island Nets on Sunday in the one game Eastern Conference Finals. 

Brooklyn (30-47): Will begin charting their rebuild after their elimination from the postseason this week. Jake Fischer reported the Nets will conduct a search for a head coach that'll include Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, along with a mix of older and younger coaches that the Hornets and Wizards will also consider. Fisher mentioned Mike Budenholzer and James Borrego as possible veteran names, and even name-dropped Hawks coach Quin Snyder as a candidate that Brooklyn considered in the past. Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and popular Suns assistant Kevin Young would bring youth and playoff experience, he wrote. The Nets hope to thread the line between player development and solidifying a core around Mikal Bridges. 

Charlotte (19-58): Steve Clifford will not return as head coach after two seasons in his second stint with the Hornets, and he'll transition to the front office as new GM Jeff Peterson searches for a long-term successor. Clifford stepped in when Kenny Atkinson backed out before 2022-23 after initially agreeing to leave the Warriors to take over Charlotte's sideline. The Hornets received permission to interview Celtics assistant Charles Lee, as well as Nuggets No. 2 David Adelman, Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez and Suns coach Kevin Young who nearly succeeded Monty Williams in Phoenix before Frank Vogel emerged as the team's new leader. Heat coach Chris Quinn and Jazz assistant Lamar Skeeter will likely emerge too, Fischer wrote. Lee joined the Celtics from Milwaukee after nearly landing the Pistons job last summer. He's been a popular head coaching candidate for several cycles. He would remain with Boston for the playoffs if hired. Here's a profile on Lee we published before the season. 

Chicago (37-40): Javonte Green scored 25 points with 13 rebounds after signing with the Bulls for the rest of the season this week. The effort shocked the Knicks and maintained a 1.0 game lead over the Hawks for home court in the 9-versus-10 play-in game despite Atlanta beating Chicago earlier in the week. The Bulls own the tiebreaker. Alex Caruso and Coby White left Friday's win with ankle injuries. Basketball Ref gives the Bulls a 19.6% chance to see the Celtics in round one, which would require beating the Hawks then the loser of the 7-8 game. Lonzo Ball is working out at the team's facility again.

Cleveland (46-31): The Cavaliers will not trade Donovan Mitchell even if he asks out this summer, Eric Pincus wrote at Bleacher Report. He also noted that the buzz in league circles points toward him declining a long-term extension this summer, though the Cavaliers would happily offer one. That follows an Associated Press report that owner Dan Gilbert expects Mitchell to agree to an extension based on their conversations, something Mitchell walked back when asked later about it. Pincus outlined scenarios where Mitchell could land with the Lakers, Rockets, Heat and the long-rumored Knicks destination. He also included the Nets as a possible alternative path to New York City. Cleveland only leads the Magic and Knicks by 1.0 game after losing 6-of-10. Their magic number to clinch home court advantage in the first round is four with five games remaining. 

"I’m not gonna continue to address it," Mitchell said, discussing his contract. "Not gonna talk about it a thousand times. I gave my answer at media day and my job is to be the best player I can for this group.”

Dallas (47-30): Rose to fifth in the west and within 2.0 games of the Clippers for home-court advantage in the first round after winning 9-of-10 and two straight over Atlanta and Golden State. A rematch of the two series that began Luka Doncic's playoff career could loom against LA. Dallas leads Phoenix by 1.0 game and sits 2.0 games above the play-in line, New Orleans down to No. 7, with six games left. Their magic number for the fifth seed is five. 

Denver (53-24): Tied with Minnesota for the top seed, 1.0 game above Oklahoma City in atop the packed west. They host the Timberwolves on Wednesday in Denver, so they control their destiny to claim the west's top seed if they win 5-of-6 to close the season. The difficulty, after losing at the buzzer to the Clippers on a Nikola Jokic heave, comes in beating the best in the conference. They're now 10-14 against their fellow top-seven seeds. Denver loses the tiebreaker to Oklahoma City and could fall to third in a three-way tie between the teams. It's more likely Denver or Minnesota pulls away.

Detroit (13-64): As uncertainty over the team's future looms this summer, Jake Fischer reported that it's unlikely Monty Williams would negotiate a buyout from his remaining six-year, $78.5 million contract. GM Troy Weaver is set to finish his fourth season, the final under the contract he initially signed to take over the franchise before adding an extension in 2022. Money could complicate the team's desire to enact change. 

Golden State (42-35)/Houston (38-39): The Warriors throttled the Rockets, 133-110, in a game that effectively ended Houston's comeback bid to reach the postseason over Golden State. Injured Rockets forward Tari Eason appeared to mock the opposition by wearing a t-shirt that said 'Warriors come out to play' before Steph Curry fired back by making a motion from the movie Eason referenced after scoring 29 points in 31 minutes. They shared words on the floor after the game before Ime Udoka blasted his team after, saying the Rockets looked soft or scared in their introduction to postseason-level play. The Warriors now lead Houston by 4.0 games and have a magic number of just one to clinch at least the No. 10 seed. Houston needs to win out to have a chance. 

Indiana (44-34): An emerging first-round possibility for the Celtics after they briefly plunged below the Heat to the seventh seed after losing to the Nets last week. They topped the Thunder to regain their footing above the play-in line, but lead Miami by only 0.5 games as the teams prepare to meet and decide their tiebreaker on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis. ESPN projections indicate that the Pacers, Heat and 76ers will likely finish in a three-way tie 6-8, which would hand the sixth seed to the winner of that Miami-Indiana game that will hand either team the tiebreaker. The Pacers close against Toronto, Cleveland and Atlanta, and currently have just a 13.8% chance to see the Celtics in round one. Buddy Hield (via trade) and Bennedict Mathurin (shoulder) losses have hurt them since their run to the In-Season Tournament final. Tyrese Haliburton has also struggled in the second half.

Lakers (44-33): Lead the Warriors by 2.0 games for the ninth seed and moved into a tie with Sacramento on Friday to move up into the double-elimination portion of the play-in tournament as the eighth seed. The Kings own the tiebreaker. LA closes against Cleveland, Minnesota, Golden State, Memphis and New Orleans after winning three straight behind Rui Hachimura's insertion into the starting lineup. USC freshman Bronny James will enter the NBA Draft and enter the transfer portal to keep his options open this summer. 

“I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” LeBron told ESPN in 2023. “Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him … I ask him what his aspirations (are) and he says he wants to play in the NBA. So if he wants to do it, he’s got to put in the work. I’m here already, so I’m just waiting on him."

Miami (43-34): Fighting to escape the play-in tournament and a possible first-round series with Boston as Tyler Herro (foot) returned from his absence that stemmed back to February with 17 points, five rebounds and six assists in a win over Houston. Terry Rozier also played after banging knees in Thursday's close loss to the 76ers that could impact the race at the bottom of the east. Miami still owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia, but will play the Pacers for a three-way tiebreaker now made more likely by the Sixers' win on Thursday. The Heat have a 21.8% chance of seeing the Celtics in round one. They close against Indiana, Atlanta, Dallas and twice against Toronto. 

Milwaukee (47-30): Have lost three straight and 6-of-10, their latest lull against poor Wizards, Grizzlies and Raptors teams as Doc Rivers showed some unraveling in bizarre post-game commentary criticizing the team's travel staff. The Bucks fell to 15-16 under Rivers on Friday, ranking 17th in offense and 11th in defense. Their magic number to clinch home court in round one is now three with five games remaining, holding only a 2.0 game lead over No. 5 seed New York. They host the Celtics for Boston's final road game on Tuesday. 

New Orleans (45-32): Zion Williamson avoided injury after X-Rays and scans revealed no damage to his left hand following a collision against Orlando on Wednesday. He has played in a career-high 65 games this season and could make his first playoff appearance if the Pelicans dig themselves out of the play-in picture. They fell into the No. 7 seed following a Saturday loss to Boston that saw them stifled to 11 points in the third quarter. Their losing streak extended through Phoenix, Orlando and San Antonio. They could fall further, leading the Kings and Lakers by only 1.0 game above the No. 9 spot.

New York (45-32): Julius Randle will undergo another shoulder surgery and miss the rest of the season after aggravating the injury in a workout last week. He'll miss at least five months after sitting out already since late January. OG Anunoby returned from a nine-game hiatus with elbow pain that seemed to put his season in question too, scoring 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in a loss to the Bulls. Mitchell Robinson also played 11 minutes off the bench, shaking off another ankle injury that sidelined him shortly after his return from early season surgery. New York's magic number for No. 4 is five. They visit Boston for a fifth meeting this season, a potential playoff preview on Thursday. 

Oklahoma City (52-25): Bummer that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams couldn't play at Boston in what became a relatively routine win for the Celtics on Wednesday. Chet Holmgren struggled immensely against Kristaps Porzingis, starting 2-for-10, while Gordon Hayward scored 0 points in -28 minutes. He exited their ensuing loss to the Pacers with a leg injury. Head coach Mark Daigneault shared some hilarious commentary on Boston. 

Orlando (45-32): They're heading to the postseason, and quite possibly doing so above the play-in line with a 2.0 game lead over Miami and magic number of three to clinch the No. 6 seed. Jamahl Mosley built a defense as solid as any other while Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner try to spark the offense nightly. Their roster carries little-to-no playoff experience into the first round though, casting some warranted doubt on their upside. Against a battered New York team, as they're currently aligned, it's impossible to rule them out from making a run to the second round against the Celtics. 

Philadelphia (42-35): Joel Embiid returned and helped the 76ers beat the Thunder and Heat in back-to-back defensive wins. A reality that would make it hard to picture them staying in the 7-8 play-in game, losing, then topping Atlanta or Chicago to claim the No. 8 seed. That's what odds still say remains most likely entering the first round, with the Heat and 76ers in a collision course for the double elimination leg of the play-in tournament. The Sixers close against Memphis, San Antonio, Detroit, Orlando and Brooklyn, however, giving them a path to the No. 6 seed, only 1.5 games behind the Pacers for now. Embiid scored 53 points in his first two appearances, shooting 17-for-39 (43.6%) and 3-for-9 from three with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in two games.  

Portland (21-56): Dalano Banton makes his return to TD Garden on Sunday after Boston traded him to the Blazers at the deadline. He's averaging 16.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 3.3 APG while shooting 35.5% from three, and most recently posted 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a win over Washington. Boston previously faced him on the road in March, limiting him to eight points on 2-for-6 shooting. He told CLNS Media he wasn't bummed about the trade last month. Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon will both return to the Garden too, but will not play due to injuries. 

Sacramento (44-33): Their failed comeback attempt against Boston's bench players could sink them into the 9-10 play-in game. The Lakers tied them for the eighth seed, and while they're both only 1.0 game back of No. 7 and 2.0 games below six and the play-in line, they finish the season with games against the Pelicans, Suns and Thunder between two easier ones versus Brooklyn and Portland. Malik Monk, expected to miss 4-6 weeks after an MCL surgery, teased that his knee feels good and while it's too early to tell, he didn't rule out an earlier return than expected. He had averaged 15.4 PPG and 5.1 APG coming off the Kings' bench. 

San Antonio (19-58): Do we really have to stop watching Victor Wembanyama in a week? His stats since March began: 22.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.1 SPG and 4.1 BPG on 45.1% shooting. He blocked Nikola Jokic repeatedly in a close loss at Denver on his way to nine rejections in the game. He's going to win rookie of the year running away and, more importantly, met every expectation following his highly-anticipated entry into the league. Here's to a more relevant Spurs team around him next season.