Despite losing to the Utah Jazz (34-36) on Saturday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena, the Boston Celtics (49-23) clinched a postseason position for the seventh straight year. Following the defeat of the Miami Heat to the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics have now made the playoffs 15 times in the last 16 years.
Grant Williams of the Celtics collected the inbounds ball on the last play of the one-point defeat and was denied as he drove to the hoop for a layup. Williams, 24, ended with 23 points, just two behind Boston’s leading scorer, Jaylen Brown. Many questioned why Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla chose Williams over Grant to conclude the game.
READ MORE: Jaylen Brown speaks out against the Boston Celtics’ racial fan culture
Boston Celtics to play for 9th consecutive time in NBA playoffs
The Boston Celtics have officially qualified for the NBA playoffs in 2023. The Celtics won an Eastern Conference playoff position as a consequence of the Miami Heat’s loss against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. The Celtics will compete in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, the league’s longest active postseason participation run. The last time Boston failed to make the playoffs was in 2013-14.
Only three teams have qualified for the NBA playoffs
Thus far this season, only the Celtics, Bucks, and Denver Nuggets have clinched a playoff place. At this moment, the Nuggets are the only club to have clinched a division title. The Celtics have clinched a playoff place, but there is still much work to be done in the regular season. The Celtics should make gaining homecourt advantage in as many rounds as possible a priority during the next month. With the East’s second-best home record of 26-9, the Celtics are difficult to beat at TD Garden.
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