The NBA season is a long, weird grind. If you've been watching the Boston Celtics lately, you know exactly what I mean. They’re currently sitting second in the East with a 26-15 record, but the Celtics last 5 games have been anything but a straight line. We’ve seen them look like world-beaters and then, just as quickly, look like they forgot how to close out a fourth quarter against teams they really should be putting away.
Honestly, it’s been a bit of a trip.
If you just look at the 3-2 record over this stretch, it seems fine. Solid, even. But the box scores don't tell you about the missing star power or the random bench explosions that saved their skin. With Jayson Tatum sidelined recently due to that right Achilles repair, the vibe around this team has shifted from "dominant juggernaut" to "how are we going to piece this together tonight?"
The Brutal Reality of the Celtics Last 5 Games
It started with a frustrating home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Nobody saw that coming. Losing 100-95 at TD Garden to a team struggling for identity is never the plan. Then came the Indiana trip on January 12th. That was a heartbreaker—a 98-96 loss where Boston just couldn't find the basket when it mattered. Payton Pritchard actually led the way with 23 points, but Pascal Siakam and the Pacers just had a little more gas in the tank at the end.
But then, things clicked.
They headed to Miami on January 15th and ground out a 119-114 win. It wasn't pretty, but they needed it. And then came the absolute masterpiece in Atlanta on Saturday night.
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Breaking Down the 132-106 Blowout in Atlanta
If you missed the game against the Hawks, you missed what might be the craziest second quarter in Celtics history. They put up 52 points in a single frame. Fifty-two! They went 19-of-25 from the floor in that quarter. It felt like every time Sam Hauser touched the ball, it was going in. He finished with 30 points, hitting 10 three-pointers.
Jaylen Brown was the clear alpha, though. He dropped 41 points and basically did whatever he wanted. With Tatum out, Brown has had to carry a massive load, and in Atlanta, he looked every bit the $300 million man. He was flexing on the crowd after drives and hitting pull-up jumpers like it was a practice run.
Derrick White was the quiet engine, as usual. He only had 7 points, but he dished out 12 assists and finished with a +36. That is just absurd. It shows how much the Celtics last 5 games have relied on his decision-making while the main scoring threats are in and out of the lineup.
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Navigating Injuries and Identity
The elephant in the room is obviously the injury report. It's getting crowded. Jayson Tatum's absence is the big one, but losing Josh Minott to an ankle sprain and having Payton Pritchard deal with his own ankle issues has thinned out the rotation.
Joe Mazzulla has had to get creative. We’re seeing more of Neemias Queta, who gave them 14 points and 7 boards against the Hawks. We’re seeing Baylor Scheierman getting starting minutes. It’s a "next man up" mentality, but that only works if the "next man" actually performs. Lately, they have.
- Jaylen Brown’s Surge: Averaging nearly 30 points over this stretch.
- Hauser’s Gravity: Teams can't leave him, which opens the lane for Brown and White.
- The Defense: Despite the losses, they are still ranked 2nd in the league in points allowed (110.1 PPG).
People keep asking if the Celtics are "vulnerable" without Tatum. Kinda. But a 26-point blowout win on the road suggests they’re still a problem for the rest of the league. They aren't just surviving; they’re finding new ways to win.
What’s Next for the Green?
The road doesn't get easier. They’ve got a massive showdown in Detroit on Monday night against the first-place Pistons. Detroit is 30-10 and playing some of the best basketball in the league behind Cade Cunningham. This is a legitimate test. If Boston can carry the momentum from the Atlanta win into Little Caesars Arena, they might just reclaim that top spot in the East sooner than we think.
Watch the turnover numbers. In their losses, they’ve been sloppy. In the wins, they’ve valued the ball. It’s basic basketball, but for this specific Celtics group, it’s the difference between a title run and a second-round exit.
Keep an eye on the injury updates for the Detroit game. If Pritchard can go, it takes a lot of pressure off the bench. If not, expect a lot more Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza minutes. It’s not the lineup anyone expected in October, but it’s the one winning games in January.
Actionable Insights for Celtics Fans:
Check the official injury report exactly two hours before tip-off against Detroit to see if Payton Pritchard's status moves from "day-to-day" to "active." Also, watch Jaylen Brown’s usage rate in the first quarter; if he takes more than 8 shots early, he's likely gunning for another 40-point night to keep pace with the Pistons' high-octane offense.