Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a decisive 122-102 road victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, showing the team’s strong offensive form early in the season.
Brown contributed 27 points, while Tatum added 25 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, as Boston claimed its second consecutive win and maintained momentum following a record-breaking performance in their season opener.
Boston’s shooting continued to impress, with the team connecting on 17 of 45 attempts from beyond the arc. This came after their remarkable opening game against the New York Knicks, where they tied an NBA record by making 29 three-pointers.
Payton Pritchard and Derrick White added to Boston’s long-range success, scoring a combined 34 points with nine triples between them. White added 19 points, and Pritchard delivered 15, connecting on five of his 10 three-point attempts.
The Wizards, making their season debut, struggled to match Boston’s firepower from deep, finishing just 7 of 36 on three-point attempts. Jordan Poole led Washington’s scoring with 26 points, while Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Kuzma added 18 and 12 points, respectively.
Washington’s highly anticipated rookie, Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, had a quieter night, finishing with two points and five rebounds in his debut, shooting 1 of 7 from the field.
Washington initially showed promise, going on a 12-0 run to seize a 19-12 lead midway through the first quarter. Poole was explosive early on, scoring 17 of his 26 points in the opening eight minutes. However, Boston quickly responded, edging ahead 33-32 by the end of the first quarter.
The Celtics began to pull away just before halftime, closing the second quarter on a 15-3 run to establish a 64-54 lead. Tatum led the charge in the first half with 20 points and nine rebounds, pushing Boston’s advantage and setting up a dominant third quarter.
Boston outscored Washington 34-19 in the third, opening with a 16-4 run to stretch their lead to 80-58. The Celtics’ high-energy play and consistent shooting allowed them to lead by as many as 32 points in the second half, ultimately entering the final quarter with a comfortable 98-73 advantage.
Celtics big man Neemias Queta also had a productive night, stepping up with 12 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes, filling in for Sam Hauser, who was sidelined due to lower back pain. Hauser had contributed 10 points in Boston’s opening victory over the Knicks.
Boston’s decisive victory further underlines the team’s depth and shooting prowess, setting high expectations as they continue their season.
