標籤: Mazzullas

The energy inside the TD Garden on Friday night was unlike anything the Boston Celtics had experienced all season. After a grueling 10-month absence due to an Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum finally made his long-awaited season debut, and it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle was back in place.

While fans were losing their minds, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla offered an especially profound perspective on this moment. Reflecting on his superstar comeback journey, Mazzulla said these are career-defining moments. “That’s why you coach,” Mazzulla said. “Being a part of someone else’s story and having someone be a part of your story.”

“This is why you train… to be a part of someone else’s story and for someone to be a part of your story” 🙌

Joe Mazzulla reflects on being part of Jayson Tatum’s journey as he works to return from injury. pic.twitter.com/O3dI4ZE5XJ

– NBA TV (@NBATV) 7 March 2026

Jayson Tatum really reminded the league what they’re missing. Tatum logged 27 minutes and looked remarkably sharp, scoring 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting. He demonstrated his trademark versatility by adding 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal, helping the Boston Celtics demolish the Dallas Mavericks in a 120–100 blowout. His rhythm appeared seamless, especially from the perimeter where he knocked down three triples.

The supporting cast ensured that Tatum’s return ended in a “W.” Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 24 points, while Neemias Queta
Reinforced the interior with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, on the other hand, finished with 16 points in his homecoming, but was no match for Boston’s new team.

The road back for Tatum was filled with tough rehabilitation and mental hurdles, but Friday night proved he hasn’t lost a step. With their cornerstone in place, the Celtics are not only looking toward a deep playoff run, but they’re also looking to the rafters.

The Los Angeles Lakers decided to commemorate the extensive NBA legacy of Pat Riley by unveiling a statue of him before their game against the Boston Celtics. As part of his speech, Riley made sure to encourage the Lakers to “kick some Boston.”

However, with the game going the other direction, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had a funny reaction when he learned what Riley had actually said.

“Did he really? It’s awesome,” Mazzulla responded with a smile on his face, clearly pleased with his team’s day of work, according to a clip posted on

Joe Mazzulla was upset that he missed telling Pat Riley that he wanted to beat the Celtics:

“that’s awesome.” pic.twitter.com/hzfBgwPgBw

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 23 February 2026

According to a clip on X by Oh No He Didn’t, Riley initially said, “Time to kick some Boston ass.”

Pat Riley: “It’s time to kick some ass in Boston”

celtics vs lakers tonight hahahahapic.twitter.com/VdjsW50kbL

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 22 February 2026

Of course, it was the Celtics who did this instead of the Lakers. The 111–89 victory was defined by a two-man offensive explosion from Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard, who combined for 62 points and 16 assists.

Brown, who also earned MVP endorsement from LeBron James after his performance, returned with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Pritchard returned with 30 points on 10-14 shooting with a total of six three-pointers. The Celtics held the Lakers to 39.1% shooting and just 30% shooting from three, despite the Lakers starting Big 3 of LeBron, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.

And while the game was largely one-sided, the outcome brought some historic positives for James. The 41-year-old became the first player in NBA history to surpass 43,000 regular season points in his 1,600th career game.

Still, Luka Doncic top-scored for the Lakers, scoring 25 points and five rebounds, while Reaves finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Despite this, the Lakers suffered from an overall poor shooting night, going just 66.6% from the free throw line, and they had only themselves to blame for the loss.