How Oshae Brissett ‘changed the game’ in Celtics’ win over Heat originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
BOSTON — When you ask head coach Joe Mazzulla about the Boston Celtics’ impressive home-opening victory against the Miami Heat, he credits the guy who only scored two points in 14 minutes of play.
Oshae Brissett, making his Celtics debut at TD Garden, entered the game at the 5:02 mark of the first quarter with the team trailing 26-13. Just over two minutes later, the deficit was reduced to three.
“He didn’t play in Game 1 (against the New York Knicks), and he changed the game,” Mazzulla declared about Brissett after the Celtics’ 119-111 win. “That’s what momentum is all about. He made a significant impact and executed his role at an incredibly high level.
“We need to recognize that what he did is just as crucial as what the other guys accomplished tonight. He played a crucial part in our victory.”
What exactly did Brissett do? While his stats may not be impressive — two points, five rebounds, no assists, and a pair of turnovers — he made several crucial hustle plays in the first quarter, including an offensive rebound that led to a Payton Pritchard 3-pointer.
Mazzulla initially planned to bring Brissett into the game during the second quarter, but sensing a lack of energy from the Celtics early on against the determined Heat, he decided to call upon Brissett to inject some hustle off the bench. Brissett delivered.
Brissett’s infectious energy seemed to revitalize the Celtics, who became significantly more active on defense for the remainder of the game, recording seven steals and six blocks as a team to defeat the determined Heat squad.
“I know that I have to do all the dirty work and provide the energy,” Brissett shared during an interview on Celtics Postgame Live. “I enjoy playing that way, I love getting the crowd involved, and that’s just who I am. I’ll strive to bring that intensity every single night, regardless of the opponent. It’s especially crucial when facing Miami because of the way they play.”
Brissett averaged a respectable 8.1 points per game during his previous three seasons with the Indiana Pacers. However, scoring opportunities may be scarce in Boston’s stacked offense. Nevertheless, he seems to have embraced his role as the Celtics’ spark plug, similar to the way Aaron Nesmith played with reckless abandon during his time in Boston, and his teammates value him for it.
“He was the sole reason we got back into the game, and I told him that,” Celtics star Jayson Tatum admitted. “He came in when we were flat. His energy, his offensive rebounding, and his ability to give us second- and third-chance opportunities were huge. That’s his job.
“For him to step up like that, especially after not playing last game, and turn the game around was massive. That’s what I love about our team.”
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