Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens told Terry Rozier that his improved play probably has a lot to do with his growing role.

The steadier the point guard’s minutes, the better his play, and after hitting only one of his first nine shots Monday night, that principle came through.

Rozier scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter of the 108-94 victory against the San Antonio Spurs, including a solo 8-0 run that gave Boston a nine-point lead with 7:52 left.

Included in that burst were back-to-back 3-pointers from the same spot at the top of the circle. It was a nice comeback for a player who, the 1-of-9 start included, was in a 7-of-35 shooting slump over four games.

“Give me one. I can make one,” Rozier said. “It’s been a tough couple of games but my teammates were doing a good job in just helping me believe in myself and lifting me up throughout the process. No matter what, I was always taught to play hard. If things aren’t working on offense, turn your defense into offense. Play hard on defense and things will fall into place and that was our mindset.

“Our coaches do a good job of just teaching defensive principles every game. How can we stop our opponent? That’s what we did and that helped us go on a run because we cranked it up on defense.”

Marcus Morris played three-quarters’ worth of a scrimmage with the Maine Red Claws and he likely is drawing near his Celtics debut. He was asked how much the soreness in his left knee had subsided.

“From the last time I first felt it I was probably about a 9 (on a scale of 1-10 in terms of soreness), it was kind of unbearable,” Morris said. “Now I think it’s like a 2 or 1. It’s come along really well.”

There was no word on Morris’ availability for Wednesday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

“Whenever they think I’m ready, that’s when I’m going to play,” he said. “I’m not going to put a date on it because what I feel as a competitor is just wanting to get out there and play, and it might not be right for me or the team. Practice felt really good. I got up and down. It felt really good. If I could say so, I probably could play now.”

Morris’ coach has been impressed by this progress.

“It’s really, really, really improved, and that’s good,” Stevens said. “One of the things we didn’t want to do was start off where you’re going back and forth all year. It’s improved a great deal.”

Morris’ twin, Markieff Morris of the Washington Wizards, was suspended by the NBA for one game for leaving the bench during a skirmish between teammate Bradley Beal and Draymond Green of the Warriors. Both players, holding each other in headlocks, went to the floor, triggering the bench exodus.

Marcus Morris believes he probably would have done the same thing as his brother.

“It’s an instinct type of thing,” Morris said. “Being from North Philly, I would have done the same thing. (Markieff) and Bradley are really close. And that’s how I feel with this team. I just can’t see nobody take one of my guys to the ground and don’t do anything.”

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