Joe Mazzulla turned to his third different starting lineup option in four games on Monday night while in search of the Celtics first win of the year. Offseason addition Josh Minott had provided a spark for Boston in the fourth quarter of their failed comeback against the Pistons on Monday night, and the performance earned him a starting nod against the Pelicans.
The fourth-year forward delivered in the first start of his NBA career, posting a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes in the Celtics’ blowout win. Minott’s on-court impact went beyond the individual numbers, as the Celtics outscored the Pelicans by 42 points in the 32-point victory.
Minott had been a bright spot during the Celtics’ preseason after signing a two-year deal with the team back in July. However, his role fluctuated during Boston’s first three games including a DNP-CD on Friday night in Detroit. However, Minott played his way back into a bigger role on Sunday night in Detroit and looked like a strong fit in the starting five alongside Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta in the frontcourt.
“It’s just been exciting,” Minott told reporters in New Orleans. “I don’t really even know how to put it into words…I’m still kind of high on life from the game right now but the opportunity to be out there and contribute to winning and the team’s success, I can’t take that for granted.”
The 23-year-old had not played 28 minutes in a game since his rookie season in 2023, but he’s bringing a skillset that Joe Mazzulla needs right now as he searches for consistency against this new-look roster. Minott provides good defensive pressure, and his length was also helpful on the boards as the Celtics dominated the glass (54-35) for the first time all season against an undersized Pelicans squad.
If Minott can keep making opposing defenses respect his jump shot (1-of-3 from 3-point range), it’s going to be tough to keep him out of a rotation spot moving forward. If Mazzulla elects to keep Minott in the starting five, he will have to do some mixing and matching off the bench to account for that. Hugo Gonzalez did not come off the bench in Monday’s win after two strong performances, with Baylor Scheierman posting 14 solid minutes (three points, six rebounds) in his place.
Whether there’s enough spacing on the floor for both Minott and Gonzalez to play in Boston’s offense remains to be seen, but it’s evident that those guys are the team’s best energy wing defenders right now, helping take some pressure off Boston’s top scorers.
The Celtics had hoped Minott would be a diamond in the rough this summer when they landed him cheaply in free agency and he’s been one of the biggest bright spots amid a 1-3 start.
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