Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla delivered a staunch response on Sunday when asked to explain how he handled the final play of the team’s wild 116–115 Game 4 overtime loss to the 76ers on the road.
A huge James Harden three-pointer gave the Sixers the lead with 19 seconds remaining in OT. With Boston in possession of two timeouts, Mazulla elected to have his group play out the closing moments as guard Marcus Smart gave the ball to Jayson Tatum near half-court.
Tatum then drove to the basket for a contested layup after receiving a screen from guard Derrick White but the play was slow to develop, resulting in Tatum kicking it out to Smart for a three-point attempt that came after the final buzzer.
