One thing you can definitively say about Joe Mazzulla is that he is adept at knowing how to ride the hot hand.

Early in the season, he knew that Josh Minott was the guy to have as that “fifth” starter, if you will - the de facto Jayson Tatum replacement as he continues rehabbing from his surgically repaired Achilles.

Shortly thereafter, Jordan Walsh came out of nowhere as the man for that job, emerging as one of the best perimeter defenders in the conference while providing efficient scoring on the other end of the floor. After being someone that many believed wasn’t going to make the team, Walsh became someone Mazzulla had no choice but to keep a part of his team’s starting lineup as the Celtics ascended towards the top of the Eastern Conference.

In steps Anfernee Simons into the frame, who has continued to provide elite bench scoring for Boston over the last month as they’ve maintained their place as a top-two seed in the conference.

His performance on Thursday night in Miami (21-20) was not only record-setting, it may have just been roster-cementing as the season draws closer to the February 5 trade deadline.

With that in mind, I’m rolling with Simons’ over on points for Saturday night in Atlanta (20-23). Mazzulla is not one to stifle a scoring streak, and Simons clearly has the hot hand. With Kristaps Porzingis out, Atlanta’s defense will be strained even more than it already would have been trying to defend all of Boston’s scoring options. And even though Simons will again be coming off the bench, he’s primed for another big night scoring the basketball.

Spread: Celtics -3 (-115), Hawks +3.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Celtics -150, Heat +135
Total: Over 229.5 (-110), Under 230 (-108)

Best number in each market via OddsTrader, which aggregates all the odds from every sportsbook to give you the best options to choose from.

Missed any of Thursday night’s win over the Heat? Here were some takeaways:

If the Celtics didn’t have Anfernee Simons on Thursday night, this game likely never reaches the fourth quarter, making his early contributions all the more crucial.

With Boston’s starting guards quiet for most of the night, Simons provided the only consistent offense early. He scored 11 points in the first quarter to halt Miami’s surge and continued to deliver as the Celtics searched for rhythm.

Then came the takeover. Simons poured in 16 points in the fourth quarter - including 11 of Boston’s first 15 in the frame - for a season-high 39.

The outburst set a franchise record for points off the bench and marked the turning point.

The thought of trading Simons has officially left the building, folks.

Boston hasn’t faced many moments this season where things felt genuinely uncomfortable.

Thursday qualified.

After losing three of four entering the night, the Celtics found themselves down big, on the road, and playing without much defensive cohesion. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard struggled to generate offense, and the Heat controlled the pace for most of the evening.

Boston didn’t unravel. Instead, it leaned on its bench, tightened its defense late, and executed in the clutch. The Celtics stayed calm - a season-long trait - and steadily worked back.

Brown’s night started unevenly.

Returning from a back issue, he committed four first-half turnovers and played only 13 minutes, sitting out the final 7:43 before the break.

But after the extended rest, he ignited his game.

Brown attacked assertively in the third quarter, pouring in 15 points and reestablishing himself as a downhill force. He totaled 27 points, 21 after halftime, and played a crucial role in Boston’s late-game offense alongside Simons.

It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was necessary.

There’s a reason why this guy is a true candidate for MVP.

None of the late-game heroics would’ve been required if Boston had started sharply.

The Heat opened with a 28-9 blitz in the first seven minutes, exploiting Boston’s sluggish defense in transition and on the perimeter. Miami consistently drove to the rim and found open shooters, while the Celtics failed to match their effort.

Boston eventually corrected course, but the early lapses forced them into a game of catch-up all night. It was a reminder that even for a veteran group, focus still matters - especially on the road.

The Celtics will aim to correct those slow starts when their road trip continues Saturday night in Atlanta (20-23).

Remember to join our CELTICS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Celtics fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!

Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.