Celtics

There were numerous fouls at the end of the Celtics-Cavs game. This is how the trainers explained what happened.

The Celtics and Cavaliers went into a foul frenzy in the final minute of their game on Sunday night.

The two teams combined to commit ten fouls in the final 26 seconds.

According to coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers, who ultimately defended their slim lead, started fouling earlier than usual. Cleveland caused Payton Pritchard to be fouled before taking a shot on two possessions, including a crucial one, with five seconds left.

“I think 10 seconds is kind of our thing, but we fouled before that,” Atkinson said. “I was like, ‘Fuck it,’ we’re going to foul. I don’t want Payton Pritchard to come down and shoot a stepback three. You just feel it.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics’ approach in such situations is to keep the time as low as possible before a catch-and-shoot jumper comes up.

So the Celtics went foul after foul against the Cavs. The Celtics made 18 of their 19 free throws during the game, but the Cavs hit enough free throws in crucial time to maintain their lead.

The Cavs also made a defensive showing that Boston didn’t expect on the final possession, Mazzulla said.

“That’s exactly how we did it, until you try to get in the lowest possible second, make a catch and shoot,” Mazzulla said when asked how he teaches players to handle such situations. “They did a great job, you see it a lot in the plays that start from the half court line, and that was the first time a team did some kind of zone against it, and so they did a good job on defense. “

“It forced us – you know, in this situation you’re looking for a catch and a shot,” Mazzulla said. “They did a good job of not getting fouled and got it to the point where we couldn’t catch and shoot the ball and we didn’t have a timeout.”

In those situations, the Celtics look for a gap in the defense where they can get the ball to a player who can’t be fouled and find a way to get out of a catch-and-shoot jumper, Mazzulla said.

There was no such gap on Pritchard’s critical possession. Kristaps Porzingis passed for Pritchard, Drew Peterson ran to the opposite corner to create space, and Jayson Tatum cut behind the sprinting Pritchard.

Jrue Holiday passed the ball to Pritchard, who was immediately double-teamed by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Mobley fouled Pritchard before he could shoot a three-pointer, forcing the guard to make two free throws instead of a potentially game-winning shot.

“It was smart of them to do that,” Porzingis said. “We obviously had some movement and tried to get an open look, but I don’t think it was really there. I think Payton made a play and got fouled and that’s how it went. It’s like adjustment against adjustment and they honestly did a good job tonight.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports reporter

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Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

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