Primarily locked into the No. 2 seed, and dealing with a far-inferior opponent, the Celtics may have simply fallen for the entice Sunday night time and stooped to the lowly Wizards’ degree.
As an alternative, they did what they do finest, enjoying crisp and purposeful basketball en path to a powerful 124-90 triumph at TD Backyard.
“It was enjoyable. We have been simply flying round,” Celtics guard Derrick White mentioned. “There are such a lot of alternative ways for us to assault groups. We’re simply attempting to create a bonus and conserving that benefit.”
With Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined, the Celtics (58-20) had no hassle breezing previous a Wizards (17-61) group that put up about as a lot resistance as one may count on.
Seven Celtics completed in double figures, led by Payton Pritchard with 20, White with 19 and Sam Hauser with 18. Luke Kornet obtained the beginning and racked up 13 factors and 14 rebounds in 26 minutes, as Boston left little question towards a group within the combine for Cooper Flagg.
“I don’t assume the group issues,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “It’s only a matter of sticking to the method.”
Boston shot 46.2 p.c from 3-point vary p.c and out-rebounded the Wizards, 62-32. Marcus Good didn’t play, regardless of a number of makes an attempt from the followers to persuade Winchester native and present Wizards head coach Brian Keefe.
The Celtics discovered a rhythm early, bolting out to a 34-18 edge by means of one. Boston buried seven 3-pointers, racked up 9 assists and didn’t flip the ball over. Jaylen Brown made a acutely aware effort to get his teammates concerned, ending the primary quarter with 4 assists.
Boston persistently made the additional cross and turned down attractiveness for excellent ones. Jrue Vacation and Al Horford have been catalysts, and Kornet and White additionally contributed.
“He’s unbelievable,” White mentioned of Kornet. “He simply at all times appears to be in the best place. He simply makes the sport simpler for everyone. If there’s a miss, you at all times know Large Luke’s going to more than likely get a hand on it.”
The second quarter was largely extra of the identical, as Boston prolonged the margin to 60-39 at halftime. The Celtics’ first turnover got here with 8:43 left within the second quarter, they usually completed the half with simply three, in comparison with 18 assists.
The protection was additionally sharp for probably the most half, as Boston dedicated simply three fouls and held Washington to 34.8 p.c capturing (13 p.c from 3) within the half. Gamers like Jordan Poole and Bub Carrington are going to hit some photographs, however the Celtics restricted them to a mixed 1 for 11 from 3 earlier than the break.
Torrey Craig supplied a gentle dose of physicality and toughness, blocking three photographs and corralling 5 boards within the half.
The Wizards briefly reduce it to 16, then a White 3 helped spark one other Celtics run. Brown, who maybe dove on the ground a bit greater than followers might like given his knee damage, hit a string of contested photographs. Kornet helped the Celtics retain possession on a hustle play and celebrated with a demonstrative level.
Baylor Scheierman splashed a 3, then stole a pas and delivered a reasonably behind-the-back cross to Vacation for 2, then swished one other 3 in a span of a minute to assist Boston push the margin to 100-68 by means of three.
“The flashy passes and every part he does is cool, however I believe he’s doing plenty of different stuff for us that’s serving to us win video games and has actually created some extra alternatives for him,” White mentioned of Scheierman.
The fourth quarter was a formality, and it supplied Pritchard, Hauser, Scheierman and the remainder of the Celtics a chance for some goal apply.
The Celtics have now received two straight, 11 of their final 12 and 16 of 18. They’ll face the Knicks on the street Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. That one ought to be a bit extra aggressive than this one.
Now, it’s about fine-tuning the operation to make sure they’re as prepared as doable when the lights are shiny.
“Each group is best than us at one thing,” Mazzulla mentioned, “so we’ve got to be as versatile as we will.”
