The Celtics go to the Washington Wizards for the third of 4 conferences this season. The Celtics received the primary assembly 126-107 in Washington on October 30. They received the second assembly 133-129 in Boston on February 9. They may meet yet another time in Boston on April 14. The Celtics received the collection 2-1 final season, successful 2 in Boston and shedding 1 in Washington.
The Celtics are 200-120 general all time and they’re 81-74 all time in video games performed in Washington. The Wizards are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games, having misplaced at Chicago on Saturday night time. The Wizards are 0-11 on the second night time of again to again video games. The Celtics are enjoying on the primary night time of again to again video games. They’re 10-1 on the primary night time of again to again video games and they’re 4-1 when that first recreation is on the highway.
The Celtics stay 1st within the East, 9.5 video games forward of 2nd place Milwaukee, 10.5 video games forward of third place Cleveland, 13 video games forward of 4th place New York, 13.5 video games forward of fifth place Orlando, and 15 video games forward of sixth place Indiana. They’re 22-11 on the highway and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 33-7 towards Japanese Convention groups and have received their final 4 video games.
The Wizards are fifteenth within the East. They’re 1 recreation behind 14th place Detroit, 5.5 video games behind thirteenth place Charlotte, 11.5 video games behind twelfth place Toronto and 15 video games behind eleventh place Brooklyn. They’re `8 video games behind Atlanta within the tenth and ultimate play in spot. They’re 4-26 at residence and 2-8 of their final 10 video games. They’re 8-33 towards Japanese Convention groups and have misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics simply completed a 5 recreation highway journey the place they went 3-2. They performed one recreation at residence towards the Suns and are on the highway for simply this one recreation earlier than returning residence to face Detroit and Milwaukee. They then head out on a 6 recreation highway journey by Detroit, Chicago, 2 video games in Atlanta, New Orleans and Charlotte. They may return residence for 3 video games towards Oklahoma Metropolis, Sacramento, and Portland. Then it’s one recreation in Milwaukee earlier than ending the season at residence towards New York, Charlotte and Washington.
Kristaps Porzingis will miss his fifth straight recreation with a strained hamstring. He’s thought of day after day. Derrick White is out with a left hand sprain. Jaylen Brown is out for this recreation with an ankle sprain. Jayson Tatum was listed as questionable with an ankle impingement however is now listed as accessible. Al Horford is prone to begin in Porzingis’ place. I’m going to guess that Sam Hauser will begin in Brown’s place. I’m undecided who will begin in White’s place, presumably Brissett or Pritchard. Pritchard acquired the beginning towards the Jazz so I’m going to guess Brissett begins this one.
For the Wizards, Marvin Bagley III has missed the final 6 video games with again spasms and is out for this recreation. Landry Shamet has missed the final 3 video games with a calf harm and is out for this recreation. Tyus Jones is out with decrease again spasms after lacking Saturday’s recreation. Deni Avdija was a late scratch on Saturday and is uncertain with a proper knee contusion. Tristan Vukcevic was not too long ago signed however hadn’t reported to the staff as of Saturday. Isaiah Livers is out with a hip harm. Kyle Kuzma was a late addition and is questionable with a shoulder harm. I actually don’t know who they are going to begin if Kuzma can’t play.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetSvi MykhailiukJordan WalshXavier TillmanJaden Springer
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonNeemias Queta
Accidents/OutDerrick White (hand) out Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring) out Jaylen Brown (ankle) out Jayson Tatum (ankle) accessible
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
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Wizards Reserves Patrick BaldwinJohnny DavisAnthony GillEugene Omoruyi
Two Method Gamers Jared ButlerJustin ChampagnieJules Bernard
Accidents/Out Marvin Bagley III (again) outLandry Shamet (calf) out Tristan Vukcevic (not harm associated) questionable Tyus Jones (again) outDeni Avdija (knee) uncertain Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) questionableIsaiah Livers (hip) out
Head Coach Brian Keefe (interim)
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum vs Kyle KuzmaKuzma is averaging 22.5 factors, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He’s capturing 46.5% from the sector and 33.6% from past the arc. Within the final recreation towards the Celtics he completed with 17 factors, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. He’s the Wizards greatest participant and so slowing him down would go a great distance towards getting a win.
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Jrue Vacation vs Jordan PoolePoole is averaging 16.5 factors, 2.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 40.7% from the sector and 31.9% from past the arc. Within the final recreation towards the Celtics he completed with 19 factors, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. If Tyus Jones is ready to play, he ought to return to the beginning lineup.
Keys to the Recreation Protection – Protection is at all times a key to successful. The Celtics have a defensive ranking of 110.4 (2nd) whereas the Wizards have a defensive ranking of 119.4 (thirtieth). The Wizards are sixteenth, scoring 114.2 factors per recreation. They shoot 35.1 three pointers per recreation (14th) however are simply twenty ninth in 3 level share. They’re third with 55.1 factors within the paint and so the Celtics should defend them within the paint and on the basket.
Rebound – It’s essential for groups to rebound to present themselves further possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. The Celtics are 1st with 46.9 rebounds per recreation whereas the Wizards are thirtieth with 40.6 rebounds per recreation. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give further effort and hustle on the boards, it often interprets into the remainder of their recreation. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the court docket.
Keep Centered – The Celtics have to remain targeted. They’ve to remain targeted on enjoying the appropriate means, taking and making good photographs, enjoying good protection, boxing out and rebounding, and on having one another’s backs and trusting one another. Additionally they should concentrate on making good passes and taking good care of the ball. The Wizards are 4th with 17.7 factors off turnovers per recreation and they’re 2nd with 18 quick break factors per recreation. If the Celtics lose focus and get sloppy, the Wizards will make them pay.
Don’t Get Complacent – They’re first within the league, 9.5 video games forward of the 2nd place Bucks. They’re enjoying a foul Wizards staff with a number of gamers out. The Celtics want to come back out able to play their greatest and never play right down to a brief handed Wizards staff considering they’ll coast to a win with out giving a powerful staff effort. If a number of of the Celtics starters sit, then the reserves who change them have to up their recreation to make up for enjoying quick handed. The Wizards led the final recreation at Boston by as many as 8 factors and pulled to inside 4 factors within the final minute. The Celtics can’t take this staff as a right in the event that they hope to win.
X-Elements On the Street vs Again to Again – The Celtics are as soon as once more enjoying on the highway. They’ve to beat the distractions that include enjoying on the highway like journey, staying in motels, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. They’ve to remain targeted and never permit these distractions to remove from enjoying the sport the appropriate means. The Wizards are enjoying on the second night time of again to again video games and needed to journey after their Saturday recreation in Chicago which can have an effect on the Wizards effort.
Officiating -Officiating is at all times an x-factor in each recreation. Each crew officiates otherwise. Some name it tight, others allow them to play. Some favor the house staff. Some favor the highway staff. Some simply make dangerous, head scratching calls. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never permit dangerous calls or no calls to remove their focus from enjoying the sport.