With the teams having almost the same record, a knife game was to be expected, but Jayson Tatum quickly took the game on his own to launch his Celtics to a quiet success in the federal capital.
With 13 points in the first quarter, 31 at halftime, 48 at the end of the third quarter and 51 (in 33 minutes) in the end, the winger sickened Washington, with his personal best 3-pointer (9/14). In dire need of imagination, the Wizards only held a quarter and a half, before sinking.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Monstrous Jayson Tatum. With a newscast at this level, Boston doesn’t need much more. Too easy, too skilful, the winger disgusted his opponents and his great friend, Bradley Beal. Better, he also knew how to find the gaps for a very high level performance, even if Washington probably left him too much freedom.
– A 14-0 before half-time. Despite Jayson Tatum’s festival, the Wizards hung on as best they could until three minutes from halftime (46-45). The Celtics winger, already boiling, then took the opportunity to shift into overdrive, being responsible for 12 of 14 points in the decisive 14-0, with 10 points scored and an assist for Marcus Smart. Washington will not recover.
– Wizards without energy. Despite a Wes Unseld Jr. back on the bench after a period of isolation, Washington lacked juice and ideas for this nap-time encounter. We can’t really say it was ecstasy on the Boston side, but there was Jayson Tatum, when Bradley Beal gave him an average game.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jayson Tatum. It’s hard to say anything negative about the winger’s game, except maybe he forced at the end of the third quarter. But he was so hot until then… With 51 points at 18/28 shooting, plus 10 rebounds and 7 assists, he single-handedly killed the Wizards.
✅ Marcus Smart. Absent for six games, Marcus Smart made Marcus Smart for his return, with an average 3-point address (2/6), risk-taking not always necessary for creation (a pass in the back in the middle of ‘a crowded racket?) but also a lot of activity (11 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals) and this “Scottie Pippen” on the baseline throw-in, on the back of Deni Avdija.
⛔ Spencer Dinwiddie. With 36% general success and 24% at 3-points, we could put almost the entire Washington team, but the point guard was the most clumsy (1/12 including 0/7 from afar) and above all he illustrated the lack of imagination of his team. Overall, it’s hard to understand what he’s doing alongside Bradley Beal, and given his lack of general movement and initiative, he doesn’t seem to know either.
THE FOLLOWING
Boston (24-24) : the Celtics receive the Kings, Tuesday evening
Washington (23-24) : the Wizards will try to revive against the Clippers, Tuesday evening
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