After a winless start to the new season Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics team will be hoping to put an end to that run in week two.

With games against the New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers, a second game against the Philadelphia 76ers and finally a game against former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka as they face up against the Houston Rockets.

After three losses in a row, the Celtics had a trip to New Orleans on the card where they went up against a Zion Williamson-less Pelicans team.

Mazzulla started a new look starting five with Sam Hauser dropping out for, new Celtic roster member, Josh Minott.

The Celtics once again made a fast start to the game, which has been a common theme so far this season.

As an early alley-oop from Derrick White to Minott off the opening tip off was the kickstarter to a quick 11-3 run for the Celtics before the Pelicans called for their first timeout of the game.


Josh Minott scoring a fastbreak dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans

In the first quarter the Celtics shot 50 per cent from the field, despite a 10-1 run from the Pelicans to try to close the gap that the Celtics had.

White’s late three pointer to end the quarter ensured the Celtics had a healthy eight point lead. As the quarter ended 34-26 in Boston’s favour.

At the start of the second quarter Boston failed to register a basket for the first four minutes as they missed their first seven shots. When Jaylen Brown found Minott on a baseline cut to take Boston’s lead back to four points.

Minott’s basket then led to the Celtics going on a 15-6 run to restore their advantage from the first quarter. As offensive rebounding and impressive defence were the keys to the latest Celtics run.

The first half came to a close with the Celtics showing huge improvement on their rebounding woes from the first three games. As they ended the half with 10 offensive rebounds to go along side 13 second chance points as well as 12 points off of turnovers. Giving the side from Boston a 65-54 lead.

Coming out of the half time break the Celtics improved to a 13 point lead, but the hosts eventually cut this down to a four point lead for the Celtics.

Which Mazzulla’s side responded to with a 12-7 run to end the third quarter with a 87-78 lead heading into the final quarter.

In the final quarter, Celtics went on a 17-2 run as they grew their lead to 20 points with under five minutes left to play.

This allowed Mazzulla to clear his bench as the game was effectively won. With the end of rotation unit growing the lead even further as the Celtics picked up their first win of the new season with a convincing 32 point victory.

With impressive performances from Anfernee Simons as he ended with 25 points, Payton Pritchard who picked up eight assists as well as 18 points and Neemias Queta who dominated the glass with 11 rebounds and four blocks.

In their second game of week two, Boston went up against one of the eastern conference favourites in Cleveland Cavaliers.

Mazzulla named the same starting five from their win against the Pelicans hoping that this breeds the same success.

Cleveland were missing the likes of Darius Garland, Max Strus and Sam Merrill. However, they still boasted a very talented team with the likes of Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley and co.

Boston finally found their form from three point range in the middle of the first quarter as they made five of six shots from beyond the arc. With Sam Hauser making four from four as he raced to 12 points off the bench.

The first quarter ended 42-40 in Cleveland’s favour as neither team played very good defence.

The third quarter started just as evenly as the first quarter but with the Celtics having a three point advantage as they took the lead, 54-51.

After Mazzulla called for a timeout following a couple of made threes from Cleveland. This sparked a 20-3 run for the Celtics as they ended the half with a 15 point lead as the score was 75-60. With star man Jaylen Brown being crucial to the run ending the half with 22 points to his name.


Jaylen Brown against the Boston Celtics

The third quarter was a tight affair with neither team taking control of the game. However, the Celtics managed to hold on to their advantage as they took a 13 point lead into the final quarter.

The Celtics showed composure in the fourth quarter as they closed the game out retaining their lead and even improving it to 20 points.

As Queta once again had a great showing ending the game with a +26 plus minus rating. Minott also had a good showing as he put up a double double with 11 points and 14 rebounds as well as three steals. Sam Hauser also ended with 21 points after his impressive first quarter showing.

The NBA cup got underway as the Celtics and 76ers faced off for the second time this season.

After suffering a narrow one point defeat in the first game. The roles were reversed in the NBA cup as the Celtics ran out one point victors.

With Brown once again leading his team from the front as he had 32 points on 13 of 19 shooting and having six assists to his name. Showing he was also able to get his teammates going in the game.

The Celtics looked as if they were on their way to another blowout victory as they raced to a 24 point lead in the second quarter. However, the 76ers put a run together and were able to cut the lead down to just 11 points at half time.

Eventually tying the game in the 3rd quarter, where from this point the game remained in balance as neither team took control.

The game came down to the final possession as Boston put on a good defensive showing to close out the game and walk away with a one point victory. Meaning the Celtics started the NBA cup with a victory and improved to a 3-3 record.

In the final game of week two, Boston went up against from head coach Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets.

In what was a tough game against one of the favourites in the western conference. Boston Celtics walked away with a loss as Rockets dominated in every aspect of the game.

Kevin Durant put in a vintage performance as he looked unstoppable scoring 26 points on a very efficient 8 for 11 shooting.

Mazzulla showed trust in rookie Hugo Gonzalez as he has begun to get more minutes in each game. And the Spaniard repaid that trust as he made his first shot of the game with a corner three. However, this trust came with its own downfalls as the rookie showed over eagerness on defence as he picked up three quick fouls.


Hugo Gonzalez against the Houston Rockets

The game remained close up until there was four minutes left of the quarter. This is when the Rockets went on a charge as they improved from a four point lead to a 13 point lead at the end of the first quarter.

As they shot a staggering 66 per cent from the field and outrebounded Boston 15-7 which helped the Rockets massively in gaining a big lead.

Mazzulla struggled to find any rhythm with his lineups as he used 12 players in the first 12 minutes of the game. This was highlighted as the Rockets kept increasing their lead as they raced to a 45-29 point lead.

The game continued in the same vain as Kevin Durant ended the half with 20 points as the Rockets had a 18 point lead at the break.

Following the break the Celtics continued to struggle to find any sort of rhythm on offence as they couldn’t compete with the athleticism that the Rockets had on show.

Eventually, the Celtics felt the wrath of the match officials as Mazzulla was whistled for a technical foul in the first three minutes of the quarter. Shortly after the Celtics were called for a defensive three second call, as well as a flopping tech for Chris Boucher in quick succession.

These calls led to a huge disparity in free throws between both sides as the Celtics were two for two from the free throw line, whereas the Rockets were 20 for 23 from the free throw line. Leading to Houston growing their lead to 25 points at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter so Mazzulla empty the bench as his side found no way of getting back into the game. It even saw former Celtic, JD Davison get minutes against his former team to end the game.