The Boston Celtics, led by head coach Joe Mazzulla, suffered a frustrating loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. What went wrong? The Celtics’ offensive struggles stood out as they shot a dismal 39% from the field and an even worse 14-for-56 from three-point range, a mere 25%. This defeat marked a concerning trend, as the Celtics have now dropped two of their last four games, despite their strong 19-3 season start. Sitting at No. 2 in the Eastern Conference, they are far from overtaking Cleveland for the top seed.

However, it wasn’t the team’s performance that caught everyone’s attention—it was Joe Mazzulla’s fiery reaction to the officiating. The Celtics coach was visibly upset, voicing his displeasure so passionately that he had to be held back multiple times. His frustration ultimately earned him a technical foul, a costly consequence for his outburst.

When asked about his behavior post-game, Mazzulla delivered a tongue-in-cheek response: “I just hadn’t seen [the referees] in a while, so just a Merry Christmas, happy holidays. I wasn’t sure I’d see them before the holidays and just couldn’t let the moment go by without wishing them the best.”

His humor aside, it was clear he was unhappy with the officiating. But he chose not to escalate it further, knowing the calls couldn’t be changed. For fans, this fiery display felt familiar—and not just because of Mazzulla’s own history.

Did UConn’s Dan Hurley inspire Joe Mazzulla’s outburst?

Many drew comparisons to Dan Hurley, UConn’s head coach, especially since Mazzulla recently attended a UConn game. “One night at a UConn game and Joe Mazzulla has turned into a monster. Someone stop Dan Hurley,“ a spectator quipped, clearly linking Mazzulla’s behavior to Hurley’s influence.

Mazzulla was present during UConn’s game against Gonzaga, where Dan Hurley was honored for his 300th career win, alongside Alex Karaban and Aidan Mahaney for reaching 1,000 career points. “I think he enjoyed it,” Hurley said of Mazzulla’s visit. “He likes Big East basketball.”

Fans quickly connected the dots, joking that Mazzulla might have absorbed some of Hurley’s fiery energy. “He kicks it with Dan Hurley,” one user wrote.

Another added, “Spent one night in the UConn locker room.”

These comparisons gained even more traction when fans remembered Hurley’s own heated moment during UConn’s recent overtime loss to Memphis in the Maui Invitational.

When UConn’s Liam McNeeley was called for an over-the-back offensive rebound foul with 40.3 seconds remaining, Hurley couldn’t contain his frustration. Falling to the floor in disbelief, Hurley shouted at official Pat Driscoll, “You’re a joke!”

The result? A technical foul, free throws for Memphis, and a heartbreaking loss for UConn.

Perhaps drawing comparison to this incident, another fan commented, “Joe Mazzulla watched UConn and then pulled a Dan Hurley. Celtics deserved to lose, refs were questionable, but Bulls outplayed Celtics,” drawing parallels between the two fiery coaches.

While Mazzulla’s fiery demeanor is evident, it’s also clear that his players respond to this type of coaching.

“Hurley wishes he was as insane as Joe is,” added another User. The Celtics won an NBA title under his leadership just a year ago, and what was once seen as a liability in his coaching style has become a major asset. This transformation is remarkable for a coach who was thrust into the spotlight after Ime Udoka’s sudden departure.