Tatum, shorthanded Celtics pull out late win over Wizards
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on February 28, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Wizards 111-110. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Maddie Meyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, including the game-winning bucket with 4.7 seconds remaining, as the shorthanded Boston Celtics edged the visiting Washington Wizards 111-110 Sunday night.
Kemba Walker had 21 points, and Daniel Theis added 20 for the Celtics, who won back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 24-25 to even their record at .500. Boston played without All-Star Jaylen Brown (left knee soreness).
Bradley Beal scored 46 points but missed his chance at a game-winner with one second remaining. He finished 16-of-29 with 11 free throws. Russell Westbrook had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Davis Bertans scored 20 as the Wizards lost for just the second time in their last nine games.
Washington was ahead 106-98 before a 7-0 stretch had Boston within one with 1:33 remaining. After Robin Lopez and Beal put the Wizards back up by five with 46.9 seconds left, Tatum struck twice to return the Celtics’ deficit to one.
Washington regained possession, but Beal stepped out of bounds under the rim to set up Tatum’s game-winner.
The Wizards grabbed their first lead of the game, 82-81, on a Robert Williams III goaltend of a Westbrook drive to the basket with 10 minutes remaining. After Boston regained the lead, 92-91, on a Tatum 3-pointer, Beal completed a four-point play, nailed another trey and finished a three-point play with 3:57 to go for a 101-96 Washington advantage.
The Celtics began the second half with a five-point advantage and led 68-57 before going cold. Beal scored eight points during a 12-2 Wizards run that spanned nearly seven minutes, cutting the visitors’ deficit to one.
Washington ended the period down 79-76.
The Celtics scored the game’s first seven points and led 14-4 six minutes in. The Wizards finished the quarter down 33-28.
Boston was up by 10 again, 45-35, early in the second, but Beal kept Washington in striking distance, scoring 13 in the quarter. His bucket with 9.6 seconds remaining had the visitors within 60-55 at the break.
Beal led all scorers with 24 points in the half.
