Entering Friday night’s Celtics game in Indiana, Sam Hauser had not shot the ball well this season. Averaging 6.9 points per game this season, his lowest since 2023, Hauser was shooting 36% from threem a career low. It had been a tough start to the year for Hauser.
However, against the Pacers, he finally had a breakout game with 23 points on 7/8 from three-point range (and 2/2 from the foul line), his highest scoring output of the season.
He was hot early and kept it going throughout the game.
A good way to get Hauser going? A drive and kick from Jaylen Brown to Anfernee Simons who makes the extra pass and Hauser knocks down the open three.
Coming off of a dribble handoff from Luka Garza, Hauser take a few dribbles to get open and hits the rhythm three.
A nice pin-down screen from Neemias Queta frees up Hauser and he takes the open look for his third nothing-but-net three.
This is a really nice play from Payton Pritchard, who had a very good game himself. He drives into the paint and can feel Tony Bradley drifting off of Sam. As a result, Pritchard hits him with the pass and Hauser knocks it in.
This is a great throw ahead pass from Jaylen that Hauser converts with a pretty running three.
A similar action for Hauser’s second three. I just love how upset Pacers color analyst (and former Celtic) Quinn Buckner gets when Hauser gets so open.
“Is that seven?” “That is seven.”
He did miss his last three of the night, but Hauser was awesome on Friday.
It has felt like Hauser has missed Jayson Tatum the most this season. The gravity Tatum demands when he is on the court is something Hauser has taken advantage of so well throughout his career. However, Friday night could represent a turning point. He has missed a bunch of open catch-and-shoot threes this season and has needed to get back on track for a while now.
Getting and making more open looks is what the Celtics need from Hauser. He is still the best catch-and-shoot three point shooter on the roster (though you could debate Pritchard) and Boston need him to make those looks.
However, they also need to create those open looks for him. The dribble handoffs with Luka Garza worked well on Friday and a pin-down most always works well for Hauser. When he makes shots, it lifts their offense in a very real way and they need more of it.
