In five games since his return to the rotation, he is 16-for-28 shooting with 32 rebounds (22 offensive) and 4 for 8 from the 3-point line. This is the Garza the Celtics were banking on when he signed a two-year deal in the offseason.
“Just playing hard,” he said of his resurgence. “It’s simple, but I think it’s something that separates me from other guys, and on the floor that’s what helps me survive out there. Just a level of effort that I bring.”
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Mazzulla said Garza has done the little things to earn more opportunities.
“He’s been really consistent when he’s been on the floor,” Mazzulla said. “I think the thing that stands out is his offensive rebounding. His screening in the second unit opens up our shot quality and we’ve changed pick-and-roll coverages a little bit. That has allowed us to have some turnover opportunities. From an execution standpoint, he’s playing well for us.”
A former college All-American, Garza didn’t get much playing time in his previous stops with the Pistons and Timberwolves. The Celtics offered him a shot to play backup center minutes and he started well before tailing off and losing his role.
“Every time you go back to that not playing, it just kind of reminds you you want to be out there even more so,” he said. “Especially me, when I was out of the rotation and just knowing I could help this team and knowing I could be out there and help and not getting a chance to do that.”
In this week’s first fan All-Star vote release, Jaylen Brown was a surprising sixth amongst Eastern Conference players despite helping the Celtics to the third slot in the East with a career-best season. Brown expressed disappointment with the voting, but his teammates advised him to focus on the source.
“I feel it’s something he shouldn’t even worry about,” guard Payton Pritchard said. “Who cares what the fans think? He’s going to be an All-Star. He’s going to be a top player in the league. Why care what the fans think? It’s what your peers think, what other players around the league think, coaches, how they game plan for you. That should be how he evaluates everything.”
Brown is averaging career highs in scoring, assists, field-goal percentage, and free-throw percentage.
“He’s producing, so I wouldn’t even worry about it,” Pritchard said.
Meanwhile, Pritchard bounced back in the win at Utah after a subpar game in his native Portland. He has reiterated this season his desire to be more aggressive with the ball, getting into the paint, and creating opportunities for himself and teammates. He has said when he’s not aggressive, he’s not as effective.
“More attacking the paint. It’s not actually shots, pushing the pace, attacking the paint. When I’m doing that it creates offense for others,” he said. “It creates offense for myself and I’m efficient in the paint. When I’m hitting those, it makes the defense collapse and it’s getting Sam [Hauser] kickouts, it’s getting others kickouts. It makes the game better.”
The Celtics welcomed back backup forward Chris Boucher after he missed three games because of personal reasons. His presence made for a fully available Boston roster. The Kings were missing two starters, Domantas Sabonis (knee) and Zach LaVine (ankle). Sacramento finished a miserable December where it was outscored by 12 points per game and finished 3-9.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.