Inside The Celtics

Joe Mazzulla Addresses Free-Throw Disparity in Celtics' Loss to Knicks

The Knicks took 20 more free throws than the Celtics in Monday's matchup at Madison Square Garden.

Bobby Krivitsky

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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In Monday's 109-94 loss to the Knicks, the Celtics produced 52 points in the paint to New York's 42.

And while the hosts took 37 shots from within that area, Boston attempted 36.

New York Knicks Shot Chart by Zone

BOS vs NYK on 02_27_2023

Boston Celtics Shot Chart by Zone

BOS vs NYK on 02_27_2023

Despite those figures, the visitors went 11/14 at the foul line, and the Knicks registered 23 points from the stripe on 34 free throws.

The Celtics didn't help that cause by taking 50 percent of their shots from behind the arc on a night they fared 9/42 (21.4 percent) on threes.

Still, one can understand the frustration that comes from that free-throw disparity.

After the game, a defeat that bumps Boston to 44-18 and second in the East behind the Bucks (43-17) due to winning percentage, Joe Mazzulla addressed New York's receiving 20 more attempts from the foul line than the Celtics got.

"How can I say this without getting in trouble?" Mazzulla said before taking a pause. "It wasn't the same as the Philly game," referencing Saturday's 110-107 win over the Sixers.

Interestingly enough, Philadelphia took 35 free throws in that matchup, and Boston attempted 12.

While the outcome makes the gap more frustrating Monday than on Saturday, on a night where Jayson Tatum received his first-career ejection, twice arguing after getting fouled but no whistle coming on the heels of either instance, there was bound to be frustration from the Celtics about the way the game got adjudicated.

Further Reading

Former Celtic Defends Jayson Tatum After His First-Career Ejection

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Celtics' Shot Selection After Long-Range Struggles in Loss vs. Knicks

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Loss vs. Knicks: New York Bests Boston on a Cold Shooting Night by the Visitors

Joe Mazzulla's Message to the Celtics After Clinching Season Series vs. Sixers

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Game-Winning Shot vs. Sixers, Including His Message to the Celtics in the Preceding Timeout

Film Room: How the Celtics Defend Joel Embiid

Top Celtics Buyout Option Set to Reach Free Agency

Jayson Tatum Unveils Jordan Tatum 1's

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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