The Boston Celtics climbed back over .500 for the second time this season. They did so with a 138-129 victory vs. the Orlando Magic. The visitors made a late charge in the final frame. However, for much of the evening, the hosts demonstrated the energy, enthusiasm, and execution needed after Friday's disappointing display against the Brooklyn Nets.
The win included two critical developments involving Sam Hauser. One is from a macro sense; the other is from a micro. Let's start with the former.
During the third quarter of Sunday's bounce-back effort on the TD Garden parquet, Hauser reached 2,000 career points, per @Celtics_Stats on X. The fifth-year forward's journey to that milestone moment is quite inspirational.
The former Virginia Cavalier went undrafted. He nearly signed with the Miami Heat, but instead chose to join the Celtics. His development included growing his game in the G League.
After appearing in 26 games during his rookie campaign, in 2022-23, his sophomore season in the Association, Joe Mazzulla empowered Hauser, who received regular playing time. The six-foot-eight sharpshooter appeared in 80 tilts, logging 16.1 minutes per contest.
Since that season, he has been a rotation fixture in Boston. Hauser has rewarded his team for trusting him on both ends of the floor. He has shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc in every year of his career. He has launched over 5.5 threes per game in the last three seasons and took 4.2 in his second year in the league.
Defensively, he remains underrated. The 27-year-old forward has the strength to defend drives with his chest out, absorbing contact without conceding a path to the basket. He also does a good job of staying in front when he's guarding the ball and contesting shots without fouling.
Furthermore, Hauser has grown more comfortable at making plays off the dribble in recent years. In today's NBA, shooters who are limited in what else they provide are getting phased out. That development was essential.
He is also an important contributor on the glass, tracking down long misses at both ends of the floor.
The maturation of his game has enabled Hauser to contribute to a championship team, earn a second contract with the Celtics, and not just become a rotation fixture, but remain one over the last few years. His milestone moment on Sunday, reaching 2,000 career points, is a testament to the work he put in to fuel that journey.
Did Sam Hauser recapture his rhythm?
In a macro sense, everything said above is true. However, zoom in, and you'll see that the Wisconsin native is shooting just 34 percent from behind the arc this season.
Entering Sunday's game against the Magic, his struggles searching for his rhythm included converting on only 20 percent of the 4.5 threes he was hoisting in November.
That doesn't mean he wasn't finding ways to contribute in other areas.
After Boston's 113-99 victory vs. the Nets at the Barclays Center, his head coach told Hardwood Houdini he thought Hauser's fourth-quarter steal "changed the game."
"We all know that he's been in a little bit of a shooting slump, but he's not defined by that," said Joe Mazzulla.
Speaking on his ability to impact the game with more than his shooting, Hauser told Hardwodo Houdini, "Just be a basketball player. I guess, at the end of the day, you might be here for one specific trait. You might be really good at it, but how can you impact your team [in] a different way when that trait's not to its normal standard? Just be a basketball player."
Still, it had to feel good on Sunday, as he knocked down five of his eight shots, including 4/7 threes. Hauser finished with 14 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Perhaps that was the start of putting this shooting slump behind him.