With just under nine minutes to play, the Celtics’ lead – which was 14 points just minutes earlier – was down to two. Cam Payne and Tobias Harris hit consecutive triples, and Joe Mazzulla called for a timeout.
For a moment, it seemed like it could be one of those nights. The Celtics struggled from downtown, hitting a season-low 5 three-pointers on 22 attempts. Tyrese Maxey was going off, scoring 30 points through three quarters. And, the winners of 8 games in a row, Boston was probably due for a loss anyways.
But then, in a five-minute span from 7:55 to 2:36 left in the fourth, the Celtics embarked on a dominant 16-0 run, and the very same game that previously felt destined for a clutch-time finish became a blowout.