After losing back-to-back home games via humiliating blown leads at home to start the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Boston Celtics got one back at Madison Square Garden today.
Boston beat the New York Knicks 115-93, looking far more like the dominating team that won the NBA Finals last year than the one that couldn’t buy a bucket earlier this week. Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
But it was Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla who really raised some eyebrows and turned some heads after the game. In his postgame press conference, Mazzulla said that the team has to “tap into their darkness” to win a game like today’s.
“This is the fun part, you don’t get into the journey for it to be easy. It’s been dark, but in a good way,” Mazzulla said. “You just gotta tap into your darkness.”
“You just gotta tap into your darkness.”
Joe Mazzulla after the Celtics got their first win of the series 😤 pic.twitter.com/OsHZESKC58
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 10, 2025
NBA fans found the comment a bit odd and have largely laughed off the comment as a case of Mazzulla being “corny” or just plain “psycho.”
“Corniest coach and team in the league,” one user replied.
“Taking the over on the over/under of how many bodies he has buried on a secret plot,” wrote another.
“Joe Mazzulla is an interesting human being,” wrote a third.
“Psycho,” a fourth said bluntly.
“This fool thinks he came up with a fire quote. Do less Joe.”
In fairness to Mazzulla, he’s already proven that he knows what he’s doing. He’s 32-15 in the playoffs with an NBA title just three years into his tenure and has yet to miss the Eastern Conference Finals with the Celtics.Â
Even after falling into a 2-0 hole in the series, there has still been plenty to stay confident about for Boston.Â
Those two losses were both the result of an unusual number of misses from three-point range. And even then, the losses were by the smallest of margins.
Boston may have fallen into a hole, but now they’re only one game back and have the momentum back on their side.
Corny or not, Mazzulla has the Celtics tapping into something right about now.
Related: Joe Mazzulla Called Out For ‘Rude’ Postgame Interview With Reporter