In a dazzling display of talent and teamwork, the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to three games at the start of the season, overpowering the Washington Wizards with a final score of 126-107 on a thrilling Monday night. It’s a déjà vu for the Celtics, who repeated their three-game winning streak from the previous season.
Jaylen Brown, a standout performer for the Celtics, was the star of the show, racking up an impressive 36 points, while Jayson Tatum added 33 points of his own. Brown showcased his remarkable long-range shooting skills, sinking 8 out of 13 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. Speaking about their success, Brown mentioned, “We’ve got a lot of talent. We’re going to be more talented than a lot of teams. We just try to take advantage of all of our opportunities.”
The game also marked the return of Kristaps Porzingis to Washington, where he had spent a season and a half. Porzingis, who was traded to Boston in June, contributed 15 points to the Celtics’ victory. Notably, he had set a franchise record for scoring in a debut game with an impressive 30 points in his first appearance for the Celtics last Wednesday. Reflecting on his return, Porzingis shared, “This was home for a year-and-a-half, so definitely some good, good memories here.”
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The Wizards, led by Kyle Kuzma’s 21 points, put up a spirited effort. However, they struggled to keep pace with the Celtics throughout the game, finding themselves trailing by a substantial 26 points after just the opening 10 minutes. Washington’s coach, Wes Unseld Jr., acknowledged the challenging start, stating, “Obviously, first quarter, game over. We played on our heels most of that quarter.”
Brown was the catalyst for the Celtics’ early dominance, amassing 16 points in the first quarter alone and propelling Boston to an impressive 42-19 lead. By halftime, he had already contributed a remarkable 27 points. Brown’s stellar performance was a testament to the Celtics’ commitment to maintaining their intensity throughout the game, as he noted, “It’s nights like tonight where it’s easy to take your foot off the gas, but if you want to do what you say you want to do, we’ve got to come out and play the game the right way.”
Brown’s remarkable night reached its peak in the third quarter, culminating with his final basket. This extended the Celtics’ lead to an incredible 37 points, prompting coach Joe Mazzulla to rest his starters for the last 12 minutes. Speaking about their approach to the game, Mazzulla emphasized the team’s focus on setting the right mindset from the outset.
The Celtics’ winning streak now stands at three, marking a significant achievement for the franchise. The last time Boston had more than three consecutive wins at the start of a season was in 2009, when they secured six consecutive victories.
Tatum, not to be outdone, delivered an outstanding performance with 17 points in the third quarter, significantly contributing to the Celtics’ commanding lead. The synergy between Brown and Tatum was evident, as Tatum shared, “He came out aggressive tonight, getting into his spots. When you start feeling good about yourself, you get into a rhythm, those tough shots are still tough, but they become a little bit easier.”
In an attempt to halt Boston’s dominance, Unseld utilized five timeouts within the first 30 minutes. The Wizards, missing center Daniel Gafford due to a sprained left ankle, saw rookie Bilal Coulibaly, a first-round draft choice, making his first start and scoring nine points.
In summary, the Boston Celtics showcased their exceptional talent and teamwork, securing their third consecutive victory to kick off the season. With star performances by Brown and Tatum, the Celtics appear to be a formidable force in the league, aiming to build on their early success.
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