Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla has had tremendous success during his time filling in for the suspended Ime Udoka.
Mazzulla, who began serving on Boston’s staff as an assistant coach in 2019 and was elevated to interim head coach this past offseason when Udoka was suspended for inappropriate workplace conduct, missed Tuesday’s game due to eye irritation. Celtics assistant Damon Stoudamire filled in as acting head coach.
The team announced Mazzulla suffered the injury while playing pickup basketball prior to Tuesday’s game. Mazzulla is still dealing with corneal abrasions, which are scratches at the corners of his eyes.
#Celtics are calling Joe Mazzulla questionable for tonight’s game against the #Clippers due to corneal abrasions suffered playing pickup on Tuesday. If he can’t be there, Damon Stoudemire is expected to again step in.
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) December 29, 2022
According to Boston’s Marcus Smart, the team hasn’t actually seen Mazzulla since the injury.
The Athletic’s Jay King noted that Mazzulla somehow injured both eyes during the pickup game.
I have never seen a man get both eyes scratched at once in a pickup game. Someone must have swiped Mazzulla like Scar did Simba honestly.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 29, 2022
Stoudamire is expected to fill in as Boston’s head coach again if Mazzulla has to miss any more games.
Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum said the only difference between Mazzulla and Stoudamire is that the latter does not chew gum as aggressively as the former.
