Joe Mazzulla Explains What's Different About the Celtics Since Their Loss in Houston

The Celtics pulled within 1.5 games of the Bucks with their win over the Trail Blazers.

The Celtics pulled within 1.5 games of the Bucks, the top seed in the East, with a 126-112 win against the Trail Blazers on Friday night. The two will meet again in Milwaukee on Mar. 30. The Bucks will be on the second night of a back-to-back, coming from Indiana.

The defending Eastern Conference champions' victory in Portland also allowed them to stay a game ahead of the third-seeded Sixers, who they'll face again in Philadelphia on Apr. 4.

And while Damian Lillard going supernova in the fourth quarter, erupting for 25 of his game-high 41 points, pulled the Trail Blazers within eight points on multiple occasions in crunch time, Boston improved to 3-1 on its six-game road trip.

Since Monday night's loss to the Rockets, who ended the night tied with the Pistons for the fewest wins in the NBA with 16, the Celtics have defended much better.

As Jaylen Brown explained after they bested the Timberwolves, 104-102, on Wednesday:

"Tonight, what I was proud of most was our defensive effort. I think keeping them under 100 was the team that we were based on last year was trying to keep teams under 100. This year, we've been focused more on our offense, but I would like to see us put that emphasis on the defensive end too as well."

Friday, before Lillard caught fire in the fourth quarter, Boston limited Portland to 24.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Celtics' defensive effort also helped induce 19 turnovers, which they converted into 28 points.

Those transition opportunities also helped the visitors manufacture 29 points at the free-throw line to the hosts' 22. A 14-4 advantage in second-chance baskets also reflected how the Celtics winning on the margins helped them walk out of the Moda Center with a victory.

When asked about what he sees as the difference-maker in Boston's last two wins, head coach Joe Mazzulla conveyed the following.

"I just felt like we had that competitive nature again, I felt like we had that identity, I felt like we had, kind of that pop to us. And so it's important that we keep that edge, that identity, still have to clean up our turnovers, but a lot of good things."

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Trail Blazers: Boston Fueled by Its Defense and Ball Movement

Jaylen Brown Wants the Celtics to Get Back to the Defensive Identity that Helped them Reach the Finals

Jayson Tatum Made the Face of New Gatorade Ad Campaign

Jaylen Brown Calls on the Celtics to Show Greater Urgency: 'It's Up to Leadership to Make Sure We Don't Drop the Ball'

Jayson Tatum Discusses His Hard Fall in Third Quarter of Celtics' Win vs. Timberwolves

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Timberwolves: Boston's Defense Keys Bounce-Back Victory

Celtics Convey What They're Focused on Improving as the Playoffs Approach