Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Refusing to Play Down to Their Competition, Celtics Cruise to Victory in Nation's Capital
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 69 points, the Celtics' lockdown defense limited the Wizards to 75 points in three quarters, and the starters earned the final frame off Monday night.
Boston's 126-107 win in the nation's capital went as well as they could've hoped. And while it was worth monitoring the visitors' focus and effort after they often played down to .500 and worse competition last season, the Celtics started fast, building a 42-19 lead entering the second quarter, and maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the matchup.
Now for a deep dive into what stood out on a night where Boston checked all the boxes, Brown paced all participants with 36 points, generating 27 in the first half, the most he has produced in the first 24 minutes of a game, and Tatum registered 33.
1. As expected, the Celtics stuck with their starting lineup from the first two games, with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis taking the floor first.
2. After playing down to .500 or worse competition often last season and starting the 2023-24 campaign against the New York Knicks and Miami Heat, it was worth monitoring Boston's level of focus against the Wizards.
The visitors came out sharp, capitalizing on arguably the worst defense in the NBA, starting 6/7 and producing eight of their first 13 points at the basket.
3. The Celtics ended the first frame with a 42-19 lead. They staged a 24-6 run and generated more points in the paint (24) than Washington scored in total.
Jaylen Brown erupted for 16 points in the period, drilling 6/9 shots, including 4/5 threes. After struggling to find his rhythm offensively on opening night, he's playing up to his standard as a scorer.
4. Kristaps Porzingis also put together an impressive first quarter, altering and blocking shots, including swatting a Jordan Poole three. The seven-foot-three center also chipped in ten points on 5/7 shooting, doing most of his damage down low.
5. Boston took its foot off the gas midway through the second frame, including Jayson Tatum often settling for ill-advised threes early in the shot clock. They also surrendered 32 points. But the visitors still entered halftime with a 77-51 advantage. It's the most sizable lead at the half of any NBA game yet this season.
Brown stayed hot in the second quarter, tacking on 11 points, matching Kyle Kuzma for the most in the period. The two-time All-Star had 27 points after 24 minutes, matching his output from Friday's 119-111 win over the Heat. That included knocking down seven of the ten threes he hoisted.
His 27 points and seven makes from beyond the arc were first-half career-highs for him.
6. Brown and Tatum combined to outscore the hosts in the third frame, producing 26 points to the latter's 24. Tatum had 17 of those, drilling 7/8 shots and scoring from all three levels.
7. That feat's also a reflection of how well Boston played defensively, keeping the ball in front, executing seamless switches, being on a string, and staying aggressive at that end.
A prime example came on a play where switching kept the Wizards from getting downhill, Porzingis' size and length deterred Bilal Coulibaly from attempting a corner three, and when Brown blitzed Poole, he forced a turnover, leading to him capitalizing on a transition three.
The visitors held the hosts to 40.9 percent shooting from the field, including 2/12 (16.7 percent) from three-point range, and converted three Washington turnovers into eight points.
8. Jrue Holiday got the assignment of guarding Poole for much of the night and repeatedly stonewalled him, including a possession where the latter wound up having to kick the ball out with his knees on the ground.
The five-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection paired his 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists with a steal and two blocks, including stuffing this shot by Poole.
9. With Tatum and Brown combining for 69 points through three quarters and the Celtics continuing to play lockdown defense in the second half, the starters earned the final frame off as Boston cruised to a 126-107 win, improving to 3-0 to start the season.
10. The Celtics' next game is Wednesday night when they host the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Tip-off is at 7:30 EST.
Further Reading
Oshae Brissett Shines in Celtics Win vs. Heat: 'He Changed the Game'
Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat
Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense
Jaylen Brown Teams with Johnny Cupcakes to Give Back to Boston
Celtics Embracing Sacrifice in Championship Pursuit: 'Have to Buy into That'
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
