The Boston Celtics started their season on a high note, taking down the Washington Wizards 122-102 at Capital One Arena. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were in top form, carrying the offense from start to finish. Tatum dropped 31 points, took on 7 rebounds, and added 5 assists untop of that, while Brown contributed 27 points and 8 boards.
How It Unfolded
The Wizards had quite a solid start, going up 10-4 early, but Boston quickly found their rhythm as they completed a narrow 33-32 comeback at the end of the first quarter. Tatum and Brown, however, were locked in during the second, giving the Celtics a 64-54 halftime lead.
In the third quarter though, Boston showed a different side with more character, outscoring the Wizards 34-19 and going on a 19-4 run that extended their lead to a comfortable 98-73. The Wizards could not keep up with Boston’s offense, which shot 55% from the floor and 46% from deep.
The Wizards made a late push in the final quarter, but Boston’s 25-point third-quarter cushion proved too much to overcome. The Celtics’ bench also stepped up, adding 35 points, with Malcolm Brogdon scoring 17 while also rendering 4 assists in a relatively short period of time.
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Key Performances
Here are the most notable top performers in the game;
Jayson Tatum: 31 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists.
Jaylen Brown: 27 points, 8 rebounds.
Malcolm Brogdon: 17 points, 4 assists.
Jordan Poole (Wizards): 26 points, 6 three-pointers.
Kristaps Porziņģis (Wizards): 32 points, 6 rebounds.
Team Stats
Field Goal Percentage: Celtics 55%, Wizards 44%.
Three-Point Shooting: Celtics 46%, Wizards 35%.
Rebounds: Celtics 47, Wizards 41.
The Celtics’ performance sends a clear message that they are ready for the season, and while their next game will test whether they can truly sustain this momentum as they continue their pursuit of dominance in the Eastern Conference, the Wizards, meanwhile, will need to regroup after a tough loss, even despite impressive efforts from Jordan Poole and Kristaps Porziņģis.
