The Boston Celtics win their second recreation in a row with a 112-98 victory over the Washington Wizards within the nation’s capital.
Boston received off to a robust begin taking an 11-point lead into the second quarter because of Jayson Tatum’s 11-point quarter to offer Boston a 34-23 lead.
Kristaps Porzings was again within the beginning lineup and he was one other participant who was aggressive to start out the sport scoring seven factors on 3-of-4 taking pictures and meting out two assists.
Sadly for Porzingis, he exited the sport within the second quarter and didn’t return. Porzinigs completed the sport with 11 factors on 5-of-6 taking pictures towards his former group. The well being report said it was proper heel ache. Hopefully, the damage isn’t a long-term one.
Boston prolonged its result in 15 after one other 30+ level quarter, scoring 33 factors to guide Washington 67-52.
Jayson Tatum performed as if he knew he was the perfect participant on the courtroom. Ending with 28 factors and 12 rebounds making it his fourth straight recreation with a double-double.
Jayson Tatum tallies his 4th consecutive double-double to guide the @celtics to their fifth win in 6 video games!
Payton Pritchard: 15 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 5 3PMDerrick White: 15 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/kpSDqd56FW
— NBA (@NBA) December 16, 2024
The Wizards didn’t win a single quarter Sunday night in a recreation that noticed seven completely different Celtics gamers rating 10+ factors.
Payton Pritchard continued to rain in threes because the main candidate for sixth man of the yr poured in 15 factors with all of them coming behind the arc. Pritchard performed probably the most minutes on the group (34) and had a +/- of +17.
Pritchard made historical past through the recreation as he linked on his a centesimal three of the season. He broke Kemba Walker’s report because the quickest Celtic to succeed in 100 threes in a season. Kemba’s report was 27 video games through the 2019-2020 season.
Payton Pritchard has reached 100 3-pointers sooner than any participant in Celtics historical past to start out a season, reaching that mark in 26 video games.
Simply broke Kemba Walker’s report of 100 3s within the first 27 video games of the 19-20 season.
One main distinction: PP’s carried out all of it off the bench. pic.twitter.com/lsIkgXOuvc
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) December 16, 2024
As Taylor Snow identified in his tweet, Pritchard has come off the bench this season which is spectacular contemplating most bench gamers wouldn’t have the posh to shoot as a lot as Pritchard does. Pritchard this season is taking pictures 43.2% from deep.
Sam Hauser was one other participant who scored all of his factors from the three-point line as the previous Virginia Cavalier made 4 of his 10 tried threes.
The second half was extra of the identical for Boston because the Wizards couldn’t cease them.
Jaylen Brown had a quiet evening going 4-for-14 from the ground for simply 11 factors, however he did have three steals as he was energetic on the defensive finish. Brown mentioned throughout Media Day this season that the Celtics towards decrease opposition groups (he particularly referenced the Pistons) can enable their bench guys like Pritchard to run the offense and play by means of them, and in addition to Tatum, that’s what Boston did.
The win strikes Boston to 21-5 on the season, whereas the Wizards crash to simply 3-21. the Celtics could have one other break as they don’t hit the courts till Thursday once they tackle the Bulls.
