Twenty games into the season, the Celtics are sitting at 11-9-a record that, while not flashy, tells a deeper story about a team still finding itself in real time. Their latest win over the Cavaliers was gritty, chaotic, and, in many ways, emblematic of who these Celtics are becoming: a team that wins ugly, adapts on the fly, and refuses to go down without a fight.
Boston pulled out a 117-115 victory in Cleveland despite being short-handed, missing both Neemias Queta and Derrick White. That forced head coach Joe Mazzulla to dig deep into his rotation, and the result was a patchwork lineup that somehow held together in crunch time.
The Cavs, without Jarrett Allen, made a late push and got within two with less than a second left. But Boston held on-barely.
This wasn’t a clean win by any stretch. The Celtics lost the shooting battle from both the field and beyond the arc, turned the ball over more often than the Cavs, and got beat on the glass-allowing 16 offensive boards and surrendering 20 made threes.
But for the first time this season, they dominated the free throw line, attempting 29 free throws to Cleveland’s 13. That edge made the difference.
Jaylen Brown, who had voiced his frustrations with officiating just the night before, made his presence felt at the stripe, going 12-for-16-tying a career high in makes. It was a tone-setting performance from a player who’s been steady through the season’s ups and downs.
Now that we’ve hit the 20-game mark, a few things are clear. First, this team competes.
Second, they rarely win the same way twice. And third, the early-season panic that followed their 0-3 start may have been a bit premature.
Since then, they’ve gone 11-6 and boast the league’s 11th-best net rating (+4.2), powered by a top-five offense and a middle-of-the-pack defense. Not perfect, but certainly not the disaster some feared.
They’ve also shown resilience. Outside of a flat performance in New York and a tired showing in Houston-Boston’s fifth game in seven nights-they’ve fought in every contest. And while they’ve faced a number of teams missing key players (Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell, to name a few), they’ve also notched a few statement wins, including snapping Detroit’s 13-game win streak just days after a disappointing loss to the Nets.
That loss prompted Brown to challenge his teammates, and Mazzulla to remind everyone that this team can lose to anyone on any night if they don’t bring the right energy.
“At our best, we have to play at such a different level,” Mazzulla said. “Physically, mentally, we have to play at a different level to be at our best. And if you don’t play at that level … we could lose any night, to anybody.”
So far, Brown has done his part. He’s been available every night and is putting up All-NBA level numbers-28.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists on 49% shooting.
He’s also helped shape the Celtics’ offensive identity, leading a team that’s leaned into mid-range looks more than most. And on Saturday, with Payton Pritchard in the middle of a career night (42 points), Brown stepped aside and let the hot hand close things out.
It’s that kind of flexibility-both from players and the coaching staff-that’s starting to define this version of the Celtics. Mazzulla has embraced lineup experimentation, and it showed again in Cleveland.
Xavier Tillman Sr., who had logged just one appearance in the previous 10 games, started at center and gave the Celtics 29 solid minutes, chipping in nine points and three steals-each one nearly leading to points. Jordan Walsh continued his strong run with a double-double in his eighth straight start. His fourth-quarter hustle play-ripping a rebound away from De’Andre Hunter and earning two free throws-was the kind of moment that doesn’t show up in highlight reels but earns the trust of coaches.
“I thought you saw the best version of what he is on both sides of the floor,” Mazzulla said of Walsh. “He can be that every night and he’s learning that, but that’s the Jordan that we need if we want to get to a different level this year.”
Hugo González made an instant impact, drilling a three and grabbing a steal in his first fourth-quarter shift. Two-way big Amari Williams sealed the game with a stop on Evan Mobley at the buzzer. These are the kinds of contributions that win close games-the little things that add up when the margin is razor-thin.
Anfernee Simons also continues to evolve in his role, especially when tasked with leading units without Brown, White, or Pritchard. He scored an efficient 18 points and showed flashes of the offensive creation the Celtics hoped for when they brought him in. His future in Boston remains fluid with the trade deadline looming, but performances like this keep him in the conversation.
Baylor Scheierman has quietly turned limited minutes into meaningful ones, showing he might be ready for more. Sam Hauser returned to the starting lineup and held his own.
Josh Minott looked like a potential starter earlier this season, and Luka Garza has handled most of the backup center duties to this point. Chris Boucher, who had fallen out of the mix, saw 14 minutes thanks to Queta’s absence.
Still, the Celtics have plenty to figure out. Crunch time remains a concern.
They’re 4-7 in clutch games and have had their share of late-game miscues-like a dropped rebound by Brown in a loss to Philly or a botched intentional foul attempt that nearly cost them against the Clippers and Pistons. According to Cleaning the Glass, they’re actually 1.1 wins below their expected record based on efficiency.
That’s the kind of stat that can swing a season if not corrected.
This isn’t the same Celtics team we’ve seen in recent years. They’re fouling more, forcing more turnovers, and struggling to rebound defensively.
The rotation is in constant flux. But there’s a new energy here-one that’s younger, scrappier, and more unpredictable.
Opposing coaches have taken notice.
“I think they’ve done a great job of giving guys opportunities,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said. “Guys are prepared to play when their number’s called.
They are younger, guys who are hungry, guys who are scrappy, guys who get out and run. They defend you at a high clip.
It’s a different look … but the young guys have been really well prepared.”
Twenty games in, the Celtics are still a work in progress-but they’re a work worth watching.