Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics to a 108-96 victory over the Washington Wizards in the NBA Cup on Friday night, scoring 31 points despite an off night for star teammate Jayson Tatum. This win puts the Celtics at 2-1 in East Group C, while the Wizards are struggling at 0-2, continuing a ten-game losing streak.
The matchup attracted a notable crowd, including injured Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. In a tense ending, Washington managed to cut the lead to five points late in the game, but Brown’s high-arching jumper pushed the Celtics ahead. Tatum, who endured a challenging shooting night going 0 for 10 from beyond the arc, still managed to score 16 points, extending his streak of scoring at least 15 points to 55 games with crucial free throws.
Jordan Poole paced the Wizards with 23 points. Despite both teams struggling with their three-point shooting, the Wizards found some success in the paint, outscoring Boston 52-30 in that area. However, they missed a key opportunity, with Kyle Kuzma’s missed close-range shot in the fourth quarter allowing the Celtics to widen their lead.
The Celtics played without Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis due to non-COVID illness, placing pressure on other players like Luke Kornet, who contributed six points and six rebounds efficiently.
As the teams prepare for their next games, the Celtics are set to host Minnesota on Sunday, while the Wizards will face Indiana the same day. Despite the Wizards’ recent struggles, there remains hope for improvement as they gain more experience and adjust their strategies moving forward.
This game underscores the resilience of both teams, highlighting Brown’s standout performance and Tatum’s ability to maintain his scoring streak even on tough nights.