With less than two weeks left in the regular season, the fight for the Eastern Conference lead isn’t entirely over. Still it was necessary that the Celtics do the job at Washingtonin a poster that looked like a trap match, even without Bradley Beal or Kyle Kuzma.
An impression which was also confirmed on the floor, since the Wizards spanked Boston (130-111), in the wake of Kristaps Porzingis (32 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists) and Deni Avdija (25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists), inspired and untenable offensively.
Suffice to say that with this heavy and unfortunate defeat, the teammates of Jayson Tatum (28 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) definitely say goodbye, or almost, to a number 1 seeded status in the playoffs. The players of the capital can, themselves, catch themselves dreaming of a miracle, synonymous with qualification for the play-in, even if the 10th place of Chicago remains distant.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Boston misses a golden opportunity. Clearly the kind of defeat that stains a season. Even more two weeks before the playoffs. Dominated in intensity, unrecognizable defensively and struggling offensively, Joe Mazzulla’s men delivered a complete non-match in the capital. As if they already had nothing more to play for, while the first place in the East remained reachable and the last days should serve as a dress rehearsal before the serious things. The Bucks, who weren’t playing that night, weren’t asking for much, as their status as conference leaders now seems indisputable.
— Washington was unimpressed. The Wizards’ season may already be over – or almost, because it is hard to imagine them returning to the Top 10 (two and a half games behind) – but the players from the capital still want to end on a good note. That is to say without swinging their meetings and without serving to assert the best teams in the league. Like Boston, therefore, who left DC with a nice suitcase. It must be said that the teammates of Kristaps Porzingis and Deni Avdija were serious from the start, without ever loosening the grip afterwards. Enough to allow them to continue dreaming of the play-in…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Le duo Porzingis/Avdija. In this end of the season in (pseudo) freewheeling for the Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis and Deni Avdija are definitely showing great things, while Monte Morris (19 points, 9 assists) and Corey Kispert (15 points) are not left out either. . Brilliant leaders of Washington’s attack, the Latvian and the Israeli were perfectly able to make up for the absences of Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma. Present in all areas of the game, successful in shooting and aggressive towards the circle, they did not give the slightest respite to the defense of the Celtics, not concentrated and quickly overwhelmed by the multiple assaults of the European duo.
✅ Jayson Tatum. If you really had to keep someone on the side of the Celtics, it would be their “franchise player”. Always eager to shine against the team of his best friend Bradley Beal, admittedly absent today, the All-Star winger was one of the few members of Boston to hold a minimum of his rank offensively.
⛔ Al Horford. Dirty evening for the Boston veteran, in difficulty in attack on his 26 minutes of playing time (5 points, 2/10 to shoot including 1/7 to 3-points…), in addition to being one of those who went through hell to contain Kristaps Porzingis in defense. Not really reassuring, when we know that the Dominican must increase in power for the playoffs, where he will be empowered in the five, and that he now remains on three missed outings.
THE FOLLOWING
Washington (34-42) : Orlando reception, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:00).
Boston (52-24) : trip to Milwaukee, Thursday night to Friday (1:30 a.m.).
