Jan. 10, 2026, 1:51 p.m. ET

BOSTON — Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has gained the reputation for being an offensive-minded manager since taking over the job in 2022. However, after games, it’s rare to hear him applaud players for shooting the ball well. He’d rather emphasize their defensive contributions, especially with guys who are also known for being offensive-minded.

Following a 125-117 win over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden this past Friday (Jan. 9) night, Mazzulla praised Celtics wing Sam Hauser, highlighting his fourth-quarter steal instead of the 19 points (his third-most of the season) he put up or his team-high 5 triples.

“That’s more important than the shots,” Mazzulla stressed.

Although the Celtics led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, the Raptors cut that decent lead down to 6 points with 5:17 remaining in the final frame. Boston responded immediately with Hauser’s help.

After a miss at the rim from Celtics center Luka Garza, the Raptors quickly pushed the ball up the floor. Toronto forward (and native) RJ Barrett led the attack in transition, but he was stopped by Hauser before he could get to the basket and lost control of the ball. The Celtics took advantage of Hauser’s steal and turned it into an and-1 layup for Jaylen Brown on the other end.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!

“RJ Barrett has been playing well,” Mazzulla said. “Sam started on him, guarded him almost the entire game. Most times RJ Barrett is in that transition situation, it leads to a foul or an and-1. Sam took a great angle, got a steal, kind of led to a play for us, did a great job keeping him off the free throw line.”

The Raptors’ critical turnover was arguably a 5-point swing for the Celtics, providing them with a 9-point lead that they never relinquished. And while Hauser’s 3-point shooting might get the most attention, Mazzulla made sure to point out the fourth-year Celtic’s work on the other end of the floor.

“I think everyone always sees Sam’s shooting, but his defense is top-notch,” Mazzulla complimented. “And he has the ability to focus on a guy and take tendencies (away), and I thought he was great defensively tonight.”

An encore performance would be a big boost for the 24-13 Celtics on Saturday night, as they host the 26-11 San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden. Despite Boston’s strong start to the 2025-26 regular season, it’s 1-3 against the top six seeds in the Western Conference and would love a win over one of the most improved teams in the NBA.

Listen to “Havlicek Stole the Pod” on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp 

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47 

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3Â