The Boston Celtics, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, claimed a decisive 122-102 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night. Tatum contributed 25 points and 11 rebounds in just 29 minutes, while Brown led the scoring effort with 27 points in Boston’s first road game of the season.
Derrick White added 19 points, and Payton Pritchard chipped in with 15 off the bench. The Celtics’ strong third-quarter surge pushed the game out of reach, as they outscored the Wizards 34-19 to widen their lead.
On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole scored 26 points, with 20 coming in the first half. Jonas Valanciunas, making his debut for Washington, added 18 points.
The Celtics took control late in the second quarter with a 10-1 run, building their largest lead of the game at 64-54 by halftime. Tatum hit back-to-back three-pointers from both wings during this stretch and assisted Brown on a fast-break layup to help solidify Boston’s advantage.
Tatum did not play in the fourth quarter, with the Celtics comfortably ahead. Brown and White were the last Boston starters to exit the game, leaving with 8:04 remaining. With two straight victories to open their season, the Celtics have yet to face significant challenges as they aim to defend their title.
For Washington, the game presented an early-season test for a roster integrating both rookies and new faces. Rookie guards Alex Sarr and Carlton Carrington had solid performances, though Carrington’s night ended on a sour note when he exited with a possible injury after an awkward fall in the fourth quarter.
Boston’s bench made significant contributions, with Pritchard, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman combining for 35 points. Queta led Boston’s reserves in rebounding with seven boards in his 14-minute outing, while Tillman tallied eight points.
The Wizards showed promise in the first half, displaying defensive tenacity and efficient ball movement. However, third-quarter struggles resurfaced, mirroring a pattern from last season as Washington found it difficult to keep up with Boston’s pace and offensive depth.
