Sam Hauser stays engaged, finds other ways to contribute despite brutal shooting night

It wasn’t Sam Hauser’s evening – and that’s placing it calmly.

His first shot was midway down earlier than it swirled out. One miss ballooned to 4, then 4 to eight, with out a single make within the first half.

He lastly hit his first 3-pointer early within the second half, then he missed his subsequent 9 pictures to complete the evening a mind-boggling 1 for 18 (1 for 13 from 3-point vary).

He tied Jayson Tatum for probably the most misses with just one make in Celtics historical past (good firm, at the very least).

“That’s like Brett Favre having probably the most interceptions and touchdowns,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated.

It was a shooter’s worst nightmare, however Hauser by no means let his struggles from the surface outline his night. He corralled seven rebounds and added three assists, serving to the Celtics outlast the Kings, 101-100, Friday at TD Backyard.

Within the ultimate seconds, Hauser attacked the basket, didn’t complain a couple of questionable no-call and tipped the ball to Xavier Tillman Sr. to arrange Tillman’s profitable bucket. Hauser then doubled De’Aaron Fox on the good second to power an off-balance shot with 5.7 remaining.

It was removed from an ideal efficiency, but it surely stated one thing about Hauser’s character that he remained poised regardless of his woes.

“You couldn’t inform by his effort defensively that he wasn’t taking pictures the ball nicely in any respect,” Mazzulla stated. “He most likely obtained pissed at himself that he missed, however I feel that’s an enormous element, to have the ability to not be affected by it to the place you possibly can’t execute different elements of your job.”

Mazzulla credited him for persevering with to shoot and his teammates for persevering with to search for him.

Hauser’s passing was pristine, as attacked the basket and located Al Horford for 2 on one play and fed Luke Kornet for an alley-oop on one other.

Fox was going to get his in opposition to anybody, however Hauser made life tough for him when he switched onto him.

Payton Pritchard, who scored a team-high 21, stated he nearly seems at Hauser’s struggles as “a very good factor” He referred to as him the most effective catch-and-shoot shooter within the league.

Hauser, who buried 9 3’s simply 4 nights in the past in opposition to the Hornets, can solely go up after Friday’s displaying.

“That is going to return again round,” Pritchard stated. “He may go 10 for 10, like we’ve seen. We obtained a win with him lacking as a lot as he did. If he shoots usually, that is most likely a 20-point sport. I feel it is a good signal, as a result of meaning the following couple video games he’s going to be on fireplace.”