Celtics' Mazzulla Erupts Over Pacers Illegal Screen

Joe Mazzulla made his point loud and clear after Boston’s 98-96 loss to Indiana, repeating "Illegal screen" throughout his postgame remarks about a play where Pascal Siakam appeared to set a moving screen that sent Derrick White down before Siakam’s go-ahead basket with 6.1 seconds left. The upset stings because the Celtics are 24-15 and jockeying for top seeding in a tight East, while the Pacers sit 9-31. Merlin sees a coach staking ground and protecting standings. With Jayson Tatum out, every late decision carries weight. Mazzulla’s public protest can prod replay scrutiny and sharpen Boston’s focus, but a single loss to a cellar team can still ripple through seeding when margins are thin.