As soon as he heard the word “dunks,” Sam Hauser couldn’t help but chuckle. The 6-foot-8 three-point sharpshooter dunked three times en route to a career-high 26 points during Boston’s 121 ...

Sam Hauser downplayed how cool his quick-release three-point shot was, but his teammates would probably disagree with him based on their reactions in the moment. Barry Chin/Globe Staff.

BOSTON — When Sam Hauser replaced Grant Williams in the rotation last season, the Boston Celtics coaching staff had a simple rationale. Teams loved targeting Hauser on defense, and yet he had ...

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser, left, drives to the rim past Denver Nuggets forward Vlatko Cancar in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Denver.