Joe Mazzulla Praises Celtics’ Second Unit: ‘What We’re Trying to Build'

With multiple players out, the Boston Celtics' second unit stepped up again on the second night of a back-to-back.

Rob Greene | Mar 13, 2024

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The Boston Celtics finish their road trip 3-2, now winning three in a row after defeating the Utah Jazz, 123-107.

The team was without Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford as Luke Kornet started again with Sam Hauser. The two were terrific as Hauser continued his hot shooting, finishing with 14 and four threes, and Kornet had 12 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Kornet again showed outstanding strides like he has each and every night, especially since the All-Star break and when he has been given starting minutes. He made plays as a lob threat, set up his teammates well, and was a wall again, defensively cleaning things up around the glass.

Boston's bench had 19 points, with Payton Pritchard having another solid evening offensively and some good active minutes from Xavier Tillman and Oshae Brissett.

Joe Mazzulla credited the second unit again, who really showed out in the dog days of the season during that road trip.

"I think it says more; I didn't say this enough in the locker room, but the fact the last couple of games everybody's stepping up, like it's just kind of what we were trying to build, where we have an environment, locker room, or culture of like, it doesn't matter who's in, guys are ready to play at all times," Mazzulla said.

Hauser and Pritchard are now among the league leaders in bench plus-minus and NET rating.

"The work that the player development team does, getting guys ready, the professionalism that those guys have, they're just constantly ready," Mazzulla added. "I have no hesitancy of putting any one of those guys in because of the work that they do, and it reflected over these two games. That's kind of what we're trying to fight for, is that depth, and it's been fun to watch."

"What we're trying to fight for is that depth, and it's been fun to watch"

Joe Mazzulla praises the Celtics' bench for stepping up with two starters and their 6th man out against the Jazz pic.twitter.com/Lgd12V32rQ
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