Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla reveals message to locker room after ugly Game 5 loss to 76ers

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Alex House, ClutchPoints

Wed, April 29, 2026 at 5:01 AM UTC ·

2 min read

Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla reveals message to locker room after ugly Game 5 loss to 76ers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Joe Mazzulla is rarely flustered following a loss, and Tuesday night was no different. The 2023-24 NBA champion and 2025-26 Coach of the Year finalist maintained his usual stoic demeanor after the Boston Celtics ’ 113-97 home defeat versus the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of their first-round playoffs matchup. He does not believe the C’s have to make a major transformation ahead of another potential close-out contest.

“Have an understanding, perspective,” Mazzulla told reporter Noa Dalzell, per the Celtics on CLNS X account. “You know it wasn’t all bad. We played solid basketball and let’s focus on the stuff that we have to get better and be more consistent in those things headed back to Philly.”

Mazzulla’s optimistic outlook is unsurprising, for he knows how much time and energy the team spends trying to perfect its process. Although their defense was undeniably poor — 76ers shot 50 percent from the field — an 11-of-39 effort (28 percent) from behind the 3-point line is what arguably doomed the Celtics most in Game 5. The 37-year-old HC, as he has shown in the past, is willing to live with a rough shooting night from distance.

Boston has suffered some stinging postseason losses over the last couple of years because of its heavy 3-point volume, but when this squad is hot from downtown, it can decimate opponents. Joe Mazzulla will trust the Celtics to capitalize on open looks for the remainder of this series, and potentially beyond. That same logic will probably apply to the uncharacteristic free-throw struggles (14-of-23).

The C’s are sure to emphasize execution and communication in their Game 6 preparations, as they try to play the cohesive brand of basketball that enabled them to amass 56 regular season wins and build a 3-2 series lead over the 76ers.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are unlikely to be a combined -26 on the floor, Derrick White should manage to score double-figures and the team will shoot better than 61 percent from the charity stripe. Boston needs to respond to this humbling defeat, while also believing in the superb skill and chemistry it has displayed all season-long.

These two squads collide in Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday night.