When the Boston Celtics lost to the Indiana Pacers 98-96 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this past Tuesday (Jan. 12), Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla took an unusual tack when speaking to the press postgame. The officiating was not especially bad compared to some uneven whistles Boston has gotten so far this season. But a few key plays where questionable calls had an impact on the game, especially a missed foul on a screen that enabled Pacers big Pascal Siakam to hit the game-winning shot.

This seemed to be the root of Mazzulla only responding by saying “illegal screen” to every question asked him in the postgame presser. Now, speaking at a recent Boston practice, the Celtics coach explained why he chose to reply in that way (via CLNS Media). “It’s a balance because at the end of the day, that’s out of your control,” he explained.

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“There’s really nothing you can do about it,” he added. “But from time to time, there’s always moments where I thought that wasn’t obvious, so just a balance there.”

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on November 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the bench during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on November 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

“At the end of the day, that’s not the message to our team,” Mazzulla continued. “The message to our team was that they ran, that they went on coming out of timeouts, not turning the ball over, making sure we make our two-on-one reads, situational rebounding.”

“That’s the real, real message. But from time to time, there’s obviously moments where that happens. Just have to balance (in) that, but the execution of our own team is the most important thing.”

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Mazzulla opens up about atypical postgame comments vs. Pacers