As a dangerous January schedule looms, Boston hasn't been playing up to its standard recently, falling 4 games out of first in the East.

But Maxey zipped past Pritchard and found a clear lane to the basket, where he put in an off-balance layup just before time expired. The play all but finished off the Celtics in this 118-114 loss, and it was an example of the uncharacteristic missteps that doomed them.

Jayson Tatum was a significant absence for the Celtics. He was a late scratch due to illness, and Boston's lack of a genuine creator was felt throughout the night. Rather than their fluid ball and player movement,