Sunday night’s matchup between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards showcased the team with the best record in the NBA facing off against the team with the undesirable title of the worst team in the league.
Let’s just be honest here. There’s no “magic” in these Wizards, and true to expectations, this game followed the anticipated script. The Celtics cruised to a 130-104 victory, leading for the entire 48 minutes en route to their fifth consecutive victory. It marked Boston’s 33rd win by double-digits this season and their 10th since the All-Star break.
Despite being without Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White, the Celtics made light work of Washington’s worst-rated defense. They scored a season-high 45 points in the first quarter and quickly built a double-digit lead just under nine minutes into the game. It marked Boston’s highest-scoring first quarter in a road game since November 2018 in Atlanta.
Washington never managed to reduce the deficit to single digits, as the Celtics stretched their lead to 20 points early in the second quarter, effectively burying the lowly Wizards. This was the Celtics’ 12th 20-point lead in their last 14 games.
“I think it was our focus,” Al Horford said postgame on the fast start. “They were missing some players. In the past, we’ve talked about it. The performance kind of goes down. We kinda relax a little bit. But I felt like our guys – we were on edge from the beginning. We came out very determined. Very focused. That’s what I like most about our group. We were ready to play, and we showed it.”
“One of the good things that we’re doing as a group is we’re really just locked in on the task at hand, and we’re not necessarily looking too far ahead. I feel like that’s helping us.”
In the past, playing down to the competition has been an issue for the Celtics. Last season, the Celtics posted a 24-10 record against teams with a losing record. In comparison, they are 25-1 against teams with a record below .500 this season. They routinely come out and take care of business.
“Understanding what we’re trying to do,” Jayson Tatum said about the different approach to games against lower-level opponents. “Just trying to get better every single day and respecting the game and the opponent by going out there and playing the right way.”
Powered by a combined 46 points from Tatum and Sam Hauser, the Celtics capitalized on their scorching shooting to seize a commanding 25-point advantage by halftime. That lead quickly ballooned to 36 points in the second half, affording coach Joe Mazzulla the luxury of resting his starters for the majority of the final quarter and a half.
Hauser and Tatum led the Celtics in scoring with 30 points apiece, becoming the first duo in NBA history to score at least 30 points apiece while playing fewer than 27 minutes.
Jordan Poole scored a game-high 31 points for the Wizards in the setback, which dropped them to a dreadful 11-57 on the season.
Here are four takeaways from a quick trip to D.C.
Sam Hauser’s historic night
Hauser earned his eighth start of the season on Sunday evening and lived up to his reputation as Sniper Sam with a stellar display from beyond the arc. However, his shot at etching his name in the history books was cut short by an unfortunate ankle injury when he inadvertently stepped on someone’s foot on the Wizards’ bench, resulting in a sprained ankle that sidelined him for the remainder of the game.
Just 2 minutes and 33 seconds into the third quarter, Hauser had already sunk 10 three-pointers, joining Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown as only the third Celtic in franchise history to achieve this feat. He was just one make away from tying Smart’s franchise record of 11 made triples in a single game when the injury occurred.
Hauser finished the game with a career-high 30 points, shooting an impressive 10-of-13 (76.9%) from beyond the arc. His 10 three-pointers in just 22 minutes and 49 seconds set an NBA record for the fewest minutes played in a game with 10 or more made threes. Additionally, his 10 triples matched the total number of three-pointers made by Washington as a team.
According to Mazzulla, the injury necessitated “precautionary” X-rays after the game. It was particularly untimely, as Hauser was well on his way to, at the very least, tying Smart’s single-game record and seemed poised to challenge Klay Thompson’s NBA record of 14 three-pointers.
“It was pretty impressive. The most impressive thing to me was everything was within the flow of the offense,” Horford said on Hauser’s performance postgame. “It wasn’t like he was hunting the shots or anything like that. We just played our game … It was pretty impressive to see. I was hoping he was going to go for 15. Break the Celtics record, and also go for the league record.”
Seven of Hauser’s 10 makes came in the first half, which tied the Celtics’ franchise record for three-pointers in a half. The Celtics also buried 17 triples in the first half, setting a new franchise record for any half.
After making 25 triples in Thursday night’s win over the Suns, the Celtics shot 24-of-50 (48.0%) from distance on the night. Boston outscored Washington 72-30 on the perimeter, becoming the first team in NBA history to make at least 24 threes in back-to-back games. It all started with Hauser.
“Loved his confidence. Loved his aggressiveness. Loved how guys looked for him. Loved how he got his shots within the flow of our execution. That’s the weapon that he is,” Mazzulla said. “His ability to just put two on the ball. His ability to create open shots for himself and other people. It was fun to watch him shoot, and it was fun to watch his guys look for him.”
“That was highly impressive. It was pretty cool to watch.”
While Hauser’s impact extends beyond his shooting, Sunday night was a compelling reminder of his evolution from a developmental piece to a bona fide 3-and-D wing for the Celtics.
It was clear that Brad Stevens and the Celtics saw potential in the former Virginia Cavalier when the team declined his $1.6 million team option following his rookie season and offered him a three-year deal worth just under $6 million. A deal that is now one of the best value-best contracts in the association.
Staying ready
When asked pregame about being down three starters, Mazzulla wasn’t concerned.
“I trust the guys that are getting ready to play because of all the work that they put into it. We don’t skip a beat. That’s the goal,” the bench boss said. “Plug guys in. They do what they do, and not skip a beat from Celtics basketball and the identity looks like.”
Some may view that as typical coach talk – of course, the coach will say he trusts his players! – However, there is a genuine belief and trust throughout the organization in Boston’s reserve unit – a trust they have earned.
With Sunday night’s win, the Celtics advanced to 7-0 this season when missing two or more players from their preferred starting five (White, Jrue Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Porzingis).
Boston’s bench has stepped up repeatedly when the Celtics have been shorthanded.
You would be hard-pressed to find a game that was lost because of the bench. On the other hand, the mentioned statistic proves that they have won a handful of games for the Celtics.
The contributions came from all over Boston’s roster Sunday night.
Obviously, Hauser finished with 30 points, Oshae Brissett provided phenomenal energy on the glass, Luke Kornet continued his impressive run, totaling 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, Payton Pritchard notched a 14-point, 13-assist (career-high) double-double, and Svi Mykhailiuk also provided some solid minutes.
“This stretch where we’ve had some guys out, the Sams, the Paytons, the Lukes, the Oshaes, Svi, X, all of the guys have done a great job separating themselves and diving into roles that we’re going to need them to play,” Mazzulla said postgame.
Boston’s reserves have been incredibly steady all season long. Their reliability, coupled with a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference, has allowed the Celtics to take things slow regarding Porzingis, who missed his fifth consecutive game due to hamstring tightness Sunday.
Over the Celtics’ five-game win streak, Boston’s core reserves have been some of the most impactful players on the floor. Hauser (+64), Pritchard (+53), and Kornet (+47) rank second, fourth, fifth, and sixth in plus-minus for the Celtics over that stretch. Behind just Tatum (+80) leading the pack, and Holiday (+56) in third.
The Celtics have five games in seven nights this week, and rest is set to become a factor at this stage of the season. Boston’s reserves are undoubtedly going to see more run, and fans should be confident when they hit the floor.
“That’s why we have that stay-ready group. For days like this where we can just plug in certain guys in certain positions and moments, and the expectation is that we don’t skip a beat. We don’t miss a step,” Tatum said. “They’re always ready. They work really hard at it, and it shows when it’s just seamless. Whenever guys are out, we don’t really miss a beat.”
Payton Pritchard’s playmaking
We gave Hauser his flowers earlier for his growth and development, so it’s only fair we give Pritchard his as well.
Pritchard continued to display his immense strides as a playmaker Sunday evening with his 14-point, 13-assist double-double. He became the first Celtic to record at least 12 assists off the bench since Sherman Douglas in April 2017.
“Payton, really, amongst our season, has kind of been underrated in the growth that he has had as a player,” Mazzulla said on Pritchard postgame. “His ability to play with the ball, his ability to play without the ball. And he’s finding ways without scoring to highly impact the game.”
Pritchard has been a solid presence as the team’s third point guard, showing impressive growth throughout the season. His playmaking skills have notably improved, especially his patience and ability to orchestrate the pick-and-roll.
“There’s so many players that you can look at on our team or that get highlighted constantly for the things that they do. And Payton has been very mature, but also, I feel like he goes under the radar.”
The Celtics put much faith in Pritchard and Hauser this offseason. With all the offseason moves, they each assumed a more prominent role, and they have not disappointed.
Shoutout to Jayson Tatum
While not exactly an NBA League Pass-worthy game on a Monday night against Charlotte, it came pretty close.
With several of Boston’s starters resting on the first night of a back-to-back, Tatum chose to play. He understands the importance of his presence to fans, with one individual even delaying surgery to attend the game.
In a league actively combating “load management” and player absences with new policies, Tatum stands out by consistently taking the court. His love for the game is evident, and despite coaches’ suggestions, he has repeatedly expressed his reluctance to rest. He simply wants to hoop.
“I’ve been here seven years. They understand what they’re dealing with. I don’t like to sit out. I understand if I were injured or whatever, but I’ve said it before: I love to play the game,” Tatum said. “Especially on the road, so many fans out there with Tatum zero jerseys on came to see me play. So I take pride in making sure I’m available as much as I can.”
Fans across the NBA should appreciate Tatum’s approach. Night after night, he gives his all, setting a standard that should be upheld throughout the league, although that’s not always the case.
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