Jaylen Brown shined with 31 points as the Boston Celtics secured a 108-96 victory over the Washington Wizards in the NBA Cup on Friday night. This win improves the Celtics’ record to 2-1 in Group C of the Eastern Conference, while the Wizards remain winless at 0-2, extending their losing streak to ten games overall.
Despite an off night for Jayson Tatum, who struggled significantly with his shooting (0 for 10 from beyond the arc) but still managed to contribute 16 points, the Celtics were able to hold off the Wizards. Brown’s clutch performance included a pivotal high-arcing jumper that extended Boston’s lead to seven points in the final minute.
The Wizards, supported by a notable presence from recently injured Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, made a commendable effort but were unable to seize strategic opportunities. Jordan Poole led Washington’s scoring with 23 points, although both teams struggled with their 3-point shooting.
The Celtics were without key player Al Horford due to a non-COVID illness, and Kristaps Porzingis also missed the game, which placed additional pressure on role players like Luke Kornet to step up. Kornet responded admirably, contributing six points and six rebounds without missing a shot.
Although the Wizards outscored Boston in the paint, their failure to capitalize on the Celtics’ off-night reflects a missed chance for a much-needed win.
Moving forward, the Celtics will return home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Wizards are set to clash with the Indiana Pacers, both games happening on Sunday.
In summary, this match showcased the Celtics’ depth and resilience, marking Brown’s performance as a bright spot despite Tatum’s struggles. As the season progresses, the Celtics will look to maintain their momentum, particularly with an eye on their upcoming game against Minnesota.