Celtics

Brissett played 12 minutes on Thursday, more than twice as many as he had in any previous game this postseason.

By Khari Thompson, The Boston Globe

May 24, 2024 | 6:36 PM

The Celtics’ frontcourt depth took another hit when Luke Kornet left Game 2 against the Pacers Thursday with a sprained wrist, so coach Joe Mazzulla decided to experiment with some small-ball.

That allowed more minutes for Oshae Brissett, who subbed in for Al Horford with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter.

The Celtics had a 2-point lead when Brissett entered the game, and it grew to 12 by the time he left. They went back to Brissett with 5:20 remaining in the third, up 7. They ended the third quarter up 13.

Brissett played 12 minutes, more than twice as many as he had in any previous game this postseason. He provided an immediate spark, posting a team-high three steals off the bench to go with three rebounds and a dunk on his only field goal attempt.

“I feel like all of our guys can guard anyone they have out there,” Brissett said. “Even if it’s Jrue [Holiday] playing the 4, it doesn’t matter. He’s strong and he knows his positions defensively. Myself as well.

“We like to switch. We’re all like-size guys. So it really doesn’t matter who we have out there, who they have out there, we all know what we want to do defensively and we’re able to execute out there.”

Mazzulla said he didn’t necessarily go into the game intending to play small-ball lineups, but the injury situation called for new wrinkles.

“It was a plan to just stay open-minded,” Mazzulla said. ”I knew every game was going to be different, especially with these guys and their ability to just put pressure on you in different ways with their lineups.

“So it was a plan to get to something like that eventually. We were kind of forced into it, but I thought it went well. I like the speed. I like the athleticism. I like the spacing that we have.

“It presents strengths and some weaknesses that we have to be ready for, but I think the open-mindedness to play different ways throughout the year kind of prepares us for situations like this.”

Brissett spent three seasons with the Pacers before signing with the Celtics in the offseason. Holiday enjoyed seeing him have an impact against his former team.

“I’m happy to see that, and he stays ready,” Holiday said. “He hasn’t seen many minutes this postseason. Probably didn’t play as much as he wanted to during the regular season, but I just think that’s a part of sacrifice and him staying ready.

“Him staying ready is tough because you’re not really getting game reps like that. But the way he came out and played — I think in the first two minutes he had, like, two rebounds and great stops. Just really excited and glad to see him do that because for one, it’s a confidence booster and two, it’s against his old team.”

Carlisle uses time wisely

Indiana’s Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith did not play in the fourth quarter, and Pascal Siakam was pulled with 9:25 remaining.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was asked why he opted to take his starters out so early.

“To look at some guys that I thought needed a look,” Carlisle said. “[Doug] McDermott went in there and played well. Isaiah Jackson brought a lot of fight to the game. Dylan Smith hasn’t had much of an opportunity to play in the playoffs, and so I wanted to see where he was at.

“We weren’t giving up. It was an opportunity to get some energetic, fresh guys in there to fight, and they did some good things.

“The guys that had played to that point — Pascal was very tired. Aaron had four fouls. He was tired. So, that was it.”

Holiday stays hot

In the two games against Indiana, Holiday is averaging 21.5 points on 69.6 percent shooting, including 7 for 12 from beyond the arc. Holiday has steadily ramped up his scoring output this postseason, averaging 7.8 points in the Heat series and 13 in the Cavaliers series. He’s also off to an efficient start as a playmaker in this series, posting 18 assists against 5 turnovers.