The Boston Celtics have spent the season rotating much of their roster through a revolving door of opportunity. On Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz, guard Anfernee Simons had his turn — and didn’t let coach Joe Mazzulla down.
Simons played 28 minutes in Boston’s 129-119 win over Utah, marking his second-highest usage off the bench in December to closeout 2025. The boost in his end-of-year minutes came from Mazzulla’s instinct and trust, letting the eighth-year guard stay on the floor long enough to make a fourth-quarter impact and help the Celtics avoid back-to-back stumbles midway through their season-high five-game road trip.
“I feel like I had a pretty good rhythm within the game,” Simons said. “Obviously, Joe let me stay out there in the fourth quarter, and I’ve always liked the fourth quarter. I always felt like that was the best quarter for me. Historically, I’ve played my best in the fourth quarter, and I was able to go out there and make some plays, be in the right spots, make the right plays, get the right rebound — just do my part in helping the team win.”
The discrepancy of bench production between Boston (43 points) and Utah (26 points) played a sneaky role in the second-half race to the finish, and Simons stood tall at the forefront of that battle.
Simons drained a wide-open corner 3-pointer as Jaylen Brown drew three Jazz defenders under the rim, giving the Celtics a 123-112 lead with 3:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. He also assisted Derrick White three times, creating seven additional points through playmaking, and knocked down two free throws en route to a 20-point, five-rebound, four-assist performance. Simons logged a plus-7 rating in the final frame and finished with a game-best plus-27 — his second-highest mark of the season.
By his own admission, a sense of regret lingered for Simons following Boston’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday — his first trip back to the Moda Center since being traded to the Celtics in the offseason.
“We know we could have easily won that Portland game,” Simons emphasized.
To prevent a repeat of Sunday night’s fourth-quarter stumble in Portland, the Celtics needed to re-establish their best qualities: intensity, perseverance, and a willingness to go the extra mile. Simons embodied all of it, even as Boston got off to a slow start. After allowing 38 points in the first quarter, including two layups on two separate 5-on-4 opportunities, and watching a 22-7 Jazz run unfold over the final 6:44 of the second, the Celtics had plenty to think about before walking through the players’ tunnel at the Delta Center for halftime.
It’s been 32 games, and the formula for getting on the floor — and staying there — has been consistent. Simons leaned into everything Mazzulla has emphasized all season, turning effort and attention to detail into opportunity.
“I was able to create plays just through effort,” Simons said. “I think that’s what gave me the best chance of Joe trusting me to stay out there on the court.”
Simons has been no exception to the rule, even arriving in Boston with the strongest track record among the team’s newcomers. As has been the case for rookie Hugo González and fellow unproven options Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and Jordan Walsh, Simons has had to wait for an extended look off the bench to prove himself and earn the staff’s trust — not only in early-game stretches, but in the game’s most consequential moments as well.
This time, Mazzulla rolled with Simons over Brown in the fourth quarter, with Simons logging 11:18 compared to Brown’s 4:39 on the floor.
“I thought Ant was great tonight on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said. “He had some great possessions on Keyonte George in the first half. Obviously, everyone will see the scoring, but his physicality and attention to detail on defense were great, and it’s obvious that when we get that version of him, it makes us a different team. He helped us a lot tonight.”
Simons became the latest example proving that Mazzulla’s philosophy works. It has quietly strengthened Boston’s standing in the Eastern Conference while opening the door for players like Simons to make a meaningful impact, even without a spot in the starting lineup.
