Jayson Tatum gave Boston fans plenty to cheer about, but the real story was how the Celtics handled Washington’s late surge, YankeeSports reports.
Tatum scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a season-high 32 minutes as the Celtics defeated the Wizards 111-100 on Saturday night. It was his second double-double since returning from Achilles tendon surgery earlier this month. Jaylen Brown added 16 points, helping Boston end a two-game losing streak.
Coach Joe Mazzulla kept Tatum on the floor longer than usual, allowing him to reach a new high for minutes played since his comeback. “We wanted him to push through and get that rhythm,” Mazzulla explained, after previously capping him at 27 minutes.
Wizards’ fightback falls short
Washington, who had erased a 17-point deficit in Orlando earlier this week, cut Boston’s lead from 30 down to 12 in the fourth quarter. However, Tatum’s layup and a Sam Hauser three-pointer sealed the win. Tristan Vukcevic led the Wizards with 22 points, while Alex Sarr struggled to make an impact, not scoring until late in the second quarter.
Queta dominates the paint
Neemias Queta was a force inside, scoring 24 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. He set the tone early, netting eight of Boston’s first 10 points and finishing with 22 in the first half. Luka Garza also impressed off the bench, scoring 15 points in just 15 minutes. Boston’s interior dominance was clear, outscoring Washington 54-30 in the paint.
What’s next
The Wizards will try to end their losing streak when they host Golden State on Monday, while the Celtics remain at TD Garden to face the Phoenix Suns in another key matchup.
