Regardless of an terrible first half fueled by an intense and handsy Wizards effort, the Celtics beat the Wizards 133-129.
Boston began sluggish, lacking dangerous photographs and letting the Wizards stroll into straightforward ones.
The Celtics had solely hit two threes out of 12 makes an attempt within the first quarter, till this candy Payton Pritchard buzzer-beater. The Wizards led on the first break, 35-31. Jordan Poole had 11 within the first, proving that he can – actually – play basketball. You may not have identified that after his previous couple of video games. Right here’s that Pritchard heave to your viewing pleasure:
Within the second quarter, the Wizards stored up their tempo. They had been with out beginning middle Marvin Bagley and commerce deadline acquisition Richaun Holmes. No facilities suited up for Washington, and ahead Kyle Kuzma needed to begin on the 5. Their technique was to run and hit threes, and it paid off early.
Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jaylen Brown saved their very own stat traces to shut the second quarter, combining for 46 factors within the first half. The Wizards led 71-64 on the halfway level. Tatum completed with 34 factors, tying Porzingis for probably the most within the sport, plus 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Generally, pondering issues will probably be straightforward makes them laborious. That’s what you get with this Celtics workforce. They’re going to be aggressive in opposition to the deserving opponents, they usually’re going to let the undeserving groups be aggressive. It loses them video games, however we are able to’t actually complain about it as a result of they’re nonetheless ok to be the perfect workforce within the league, by far. As an alternative, we’ll all simply pull our hair out watching below-average gamers have profession video games in opposition to Boston each night time.
Very like the halftime leisure – who painted a portrait of Invoice Russell – the Celtics turned it the other way up midway by way of so we might see the larger image.
It wasn’t with out warts, dangerous misses, or horrible turnovers, however the Celtics went on a run within the third quarter because of some good Porzingis play. He was 12-12 from the free throw line with a thirty-point double-double by way of three quarters. Porzingis added 11 rebounds and a block to his 34 factors.
Boston led 100-87 after three, and Pritchard drilled YET ANOTHER buzzer-beater to shut the quarter. It didn’t depend although, as a result of I suppose numbers are extra vital than enjoyable on this league.
Right here’s that heave as effectively, as a result of Pritchard was superior tonight.
The Celtics outscored the Wizards 36-16 within the third.
Boston was with out their commerce deadline additions, Jaden Springer and Xavier Tillman. They stayed on the bench in road garments, awaiting their debuts. Springer could be able to go on Sunday in opposition to the Miami Warmth, however Tillman will probably want some extra time to recover from a knee harm.
It was all Pritchard to start out the fourth. He was extremely dynamic moving into the lane and pulling up. His contributions had been welcome, as a result of the remainder of the workforce was fairly sloppy on the offensive finish throughout that stretch. He completed with 11 very key factors.
Jrue Vacation hit some clutch threes that basically gained the sport for Boston. He was 2-2 from three with 20 factors within the sport.
It was a superb comeback from a messy first half, however the Celtics ought to actually discover ways to keep away from ever trailing in opposition to dangerous groups with out anybody over 6’8”. That’s the way you get relaxation to your greatest gamers because the season involves an in depth.
After I wrote that, the Wizards went on a giant run and introduced the rating to a four-point Boston lead. Due to course they did.
