Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla used the same two words to answer every postgame question after a loss to the Indiana Pacers: "Illegal screen."
The peculiar postgame news conference occurred after Mazzulla's Celtics lost 98-96 to the Indiana Pacers on Monday in Indianapolis. Mazzulla's session with reporters lasted about 40 seconds.
He did not elaborate on his comments, which most likely referenced a screen set by Pacers forward Pascal Siakam before he went on to hit the go-ahead basket with just seconds remaining.
The Celtics trailed by as many as 13 points and were down 91-85 with 6:20 remaining. Veteran guard Derrick White tied the score at 96 with a jump shot with 29 seconds remaining.
Pacers guard/forward Andrew Nembhard dribbled the ball near half court, with White defending, on the next possession. Siakam came running behind White from the right side before peeling back.
He then used his right hip to screen White, knocking him off balance. The move allowed Nembhard to draw the defense of 6-foot-6 Jordan Walsh while breaking toward the paint. It also forced the 6-foot-4 White to guard 6-foot-8 Siakam.
Nembhard then picked up his dribble and passed back to Siakam. He faced off with White before spinning into the paint and sinking a floater with 6.1 seconds remaining.
White proceeded to miss a pull-up 3-pointer on the game's final possession.
In his first postgame question, Mazzulla was asked to take reporters through the last few possessions.
"Illegal screen," he said.
"What did you say?" a reporter asked.
"Illegal screen," Mazzulla repeated.
Mazzulla repeated the phrase six times during the session. He did not offer any other insight.
The Celtics and Pacers exchanged the lead 11 times in the matchup. The Celtics, who led by as many as nine points, out-scored the Pacers 54-38 in the paint. The Pacers outshot the visitors 46.4% to 45.5%, including a 43.2% to 25.7% edge from 3-point range. Siakam totaled 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Pacers center Jay Huff chipped in 20 points. Celtics guard Payton Pritchard scored a game-high 23 points, with eight assists. White scored 18 points in the loss.
Mazzulla's news conference came the same day the NBA fined Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown $35,000 for public criticism of officials. Brown, who didn't play Monday, made those comments after a 100-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in Boston.
Brown said he would "accept a fine" before aiming criticism at officials. The Celtics shot just four free throws, with none from Brown, in that narrow setback.
The Pacers, who own the second-worst record (9-31) in the NBA and sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, won their third-consecutive game Monday in Indianapolis. They will host the fourth-place Toronto Raptors (24-17) at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Celtics (24-15), who sit in third place, sustained their third loss in four games. They will battle the eighth-place Miami Heat (20-19) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Miami.
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