The Celtics have had an uncharacteristic number of home losses this year (13) despite being top contenders to repeat as NBA champions. They have more than made up for those struggles away from TD Garden however. Boston locked up their franchise-best 33rd road win of the season on Tuesday night with a 119-117 overtime win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The victory puts Boston within striking distance of matching the best regular season road record in NBA history at 34-7, which was set by the Golden State Warriors in 2016. The Celtics currently sit at 33-7 with one road game remaining on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic.
Jayson Tatum reflected on the Celtics’ road dominance this season after scoring 32 points on Wednesday night.
“We talk about it all the time, regardless of record or seed, you want to win a championship, you have to win some games on the road,” Tatum said. “Kind of prepare and practice that mentality throughout the regular season.”
Joe Mazzulla insisted that he has not put any additional premium on this team’s road play. Instead, it was something that organically developed within the group.
“You don’t talk about these things,” Mazzulla said. “Every season is different and every team develops different types of identity. As the season went on, it was just an identity the guys have developed. You have to be able to win big games and close games regardless but this is a small piece of an identity that this team has taken on.”
Just how hard the Celtics push to match the Warriors’ record on Wednesday night remains to be seen. Boston’s starters played heavy minutes in their overtime win (outside of Jaylen Brown, who is on a minutes limit). That could lead to the team sitting most of that group, especially since the team’s top six players were on the injured report already Tuesday night before all were upgraded to available outside of Al Horford (knee).
No matter who is available, Mazzulla explains the priority will remain the same.
“It goes back into whoever is available, they have to win,” Mazzulla said. “It’s been that way since day one. We just stick to the process of winning. The ownership that the guys have, whoever is playing or not playing, their responsibility is to do what it takes to win. That validates the locker room and whoever is out there, we have to be in position to win.”
The Celtics will release their injury report for Wednesday’s matchup in Orlando around midday.
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