Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff played reporters in a pickup game. It went as expected

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla wants to win, no matter the opponent.

Even when playing against reporters.

Here’s what happened: The Celtics had told their reporters that they could use the Auerbach Center courts for a media game after practice on Tuesday. But Mazzulla had a surprise planned as well.

“You’re not playing against each other,” Mazzulla told the group. “You’re playing against the coaches.”

With that, he walked away from the post-practice media scrum. Game on.

Well, sort of.

Final score: Celtics coaches 57, Celtics media 4. And yes, the coaches were still shooting deep 3-pointers as time expired. Mazzulla actually fist-pumped after the final basket. There was no running out the final seconds of a lopsided game, as would typically be the case in an NBA contest.