In recent losses to the Bulls and Cavaliers, the Celtics sizzled in stretches in the first half but watched sizable leads disappear.
Against the Wizards on Sunday, in a convincing 112-94 win, they built a commanding cushion and never relented. Not every offensive possession was pristine, and they had some lulls along the way, but the defensive intensity never wavered.
The Celtics (4-2) resembled the defensive juggernaut they were the bulk of last season.
After allowing 120 and 132 points the last two games, this was a welcome sight for a team that prides itself on that end of the floor. Washington (3-3) shot just 38.8 percent from the floor and 21.9 percent from 3-point range.
Jaylen Brown (24), Jayson Tatum (23) and Malcolm Brogdon (23) led the way offensively, as the Celtics finished 44.7 percent from 3 themselves.
Brown erupted for 16 points in the first quarter alone, outscoring the Wizards himself as the Celtics built a commanding 34-15 edge. Tatum added 11, hitting two 3-pointers in the first minute to set the tone early.
No Celtic other than Brown and Tatum attempted a shot until Marcus Smart did so with 4:06 left in the quarter. The Wizards knew what was coming, but they couldn’t stop it.
First Celtics shot taken by someone other than Tatum or Brown?
Marcus Smart with 4:06 left in the first.
Tatum and Brown took the first 12 shots, and scored the first 23 Boston points. https://t.co/2VnKtRph7B
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) October 30, 2022
Smart was his usual pesky self on defense, Luke Kornet gave the Celtics quality minutes and Grant Williams looked sharp after missing a game due to a suspension.
The Celtics were firmly in front at that point, but much like they did against the Bulls, they reverted to some bad habits in the second quarter. The Wizards outscored them, 32-24, slicing Boston’s halftime lead to 58-47.
After a sizzling start, the Celtics played sloppy basketball in the second period and let Washington hang around. They did, however, hold Bradley Beal scoreless, and limit a Wizards team that entered with the NBA’s best field-goal percentage to just 36.5 percent shooting.
Both sides started the second half cold, but Al Horford and Derrick White drained back-to-back 3’s to extend the Celtics’ lead to 72-56 with 5:49 left in the third.
Beal finally scored his first points with 2:29 left in the third, but Brogdon and Sam Hauser helped the Celtics push the margin to 87-68 heading to the fourth.
The lead never ballooned and it never shrunk, as the Celtics comfortably took care of business.
