Inside The Celtics

Mike Muscala on Celtics Debut: 'a Blessing, it was Fun'

Mike Muscala registered 12 points, two assists, and a block in his Celtics debut.

Bobby Krivitsky

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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A day after getting traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Boston Celtics, Mike Muscala debuted with his new team, first checking in to an ovation from the TD Garden crowd with 3:30 left in the first quarter.

1:30 later, Jayson Tatum fired a kick-out pass to Mike Muscala, stationed at the far-side corner, and the NBA's only player ever who attended Bucknell buried his first shot as a Celtic.

Muscala proceeded to knock down four of the eight shots he hoisted, all threes, finishing with 12 points, two assists, and a block in Boston's 127-116 win over the Hornets.

In 16 minutes of floor time, Muscala, nicknamed Moose, registered a plus-five plus-minus rating. It's a reflection of him also playing well defensively, especially in drop coverage against the pick-and-roll.

After the game, Muscala, who's only the second player in league history to wear number 57, said he chose that to honor his mother, who was born in 1957, but passed away before this season started.

Discussing his impressive Celtics debut, number 57 expressed, "it was fun to be out there tonight," adding, "the energy in the arena was just amazing, you can just tell (that) the fans love the game here, and it was just a blessing, it was fun."

Further Reading

Derrick White Discusses His Career Night and Matching a Celtics Franchise Record

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hornets: Derrick White's Career Night Helps Boston Blow by Charlotte

Brad Stevens Discusses What Mike Muscala Brings to the Celtics

Celtics Reportedly 'Engaged' with Several Potential Buyout Candidates

Celtics Reportedly Missed Out on 'Top Choice' Big Man Leading to Deal for Mike Muscala

Examining Potential Options for the Celtics on the Buyout Market

The Latest on Jaylen Brown's Facial Fracture and How Long He Might Be Out

1:1 with Paul Pierce on What the Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Means to Him; Jayson Tatum's Growth, His Evaluation of Boston's Season, and More

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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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