NBA: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum sharp again as Celtics beat Wizards
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center right, lands on Washington Wizards assistant coaches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Jaylen Brown tossed in 27 points and Jayson Tatum finished with 25 to lead the visiting Boston Celtics to a 122-102 victory over the Washington Wizards in the NBA on Thursday night.
Tatum also had 11 rebounds and six assists in the win. Boston led by as many as 32 points in the second half.
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The Celtics were 17-of-45 from behind the 3-point arc after tying an NBA record by making 29 3-pointers in a season-opening victory against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Boston’s Payton Pritchard connected on five of his 10 3-point attempts and finished with 15 points. Derrick White made four 3-pointers and added 19 points for the Celtics.
It was the season opener for Washington, which received a team-high 26 points from Jordan Poole. Jonas Valanciunas (18) and Kyle Kuzma (12) also scored in double figures for the Wizards, who were 7-of-36 on 3-point attempts.
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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) gains control of the ball against Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington’s Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, finished the game with two points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. He shot 1-of-7 from the field.
A 12-0 run handed the Wizards a 19-12 lead with 5:56 left in the first quarter, but the Celtics led 33-32 after 12 minutes. Poole played eight minutes in the quarter and scored 17 points.
READ: NBA: Celtics tie NBA record with 29 3s, then miss next 13 tries
Boston closed the second quarter on a 15-3 run and owned a 64-54 advantage at halftime. Tatum had 20 points and nine rebounds in the half.
The Celtics took control early in the third quarter. Boston scored 16 of the first 20 points in the third to extend its lead to 80-58 with 6:40 remaining in the quarter. Boston outscored Washington 34-19 in the third and led 98-73 entering the fourth.
Sam Hauser didn’t play for the Celtics because of lower back pain. Hauser scored 10 points in Boston’s opener against the Knicks. Big man Neemias Queta stepped up with 12 points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes. –Field Level Media
