Celtics off the mark in double OT loss to Wizards
A three-pointer here, a defensive stop there, and maybe the Celtics pull out a win in regulation.
Instead, Boston shot 2-of-26 from deep and left the door open for the Washington Wizards to push it to overtime, then double overtime. The home Wizards eventually grabbed a 115-112 win to drop the Celtics to 2-4 on the young season.
Jaylen Brown had 34 points. His jumper gave the C’s a 103-102 lead in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. But Spencer Dinwiddie got to the line at the closing bell and hit one of two free throws to necessitate extra time.
Boston rattled off six straight points in OT for their largest lead of the game. But Washington came back to tie it at 109.
The Green had a one-point lead in double OT before a call was overturned by officials, leading to baskets by Bradley Beal and Dinwiddie to put the game away.
Trailing from the early going, Boston took the lead at 71-70 in the third quarter on a Brown jumper. The lead pinballed back and forth from there, with Payton Pritchard nailing Boston’s first three with about nine minutes left in the game. Washington then built a six-point lead, but the Celtics responded with a 6-0 run.
It was that kind of game. But the good guys wound up on the losing end.
New addition Josh Richardson impressed with 18 points in 37 minutes off the bench. Al Horford posted eight points, 10 rebounds, five assists and six blocks.
Jayson Tatum had 27 points on 10-of-32 shooting.
The Wizards were by paced by – who else – Beal with 36 points, but the offensive dynamo shot just 12-of-32 from the field. Montrezl Harrell (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Kyle Kuzma (17 points, 17 rebounds) both double-doubled while Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 20 with nine boards.
Harrell banked in a running half-court heave to send Washington to the locker room with a 53-47 halftime advantage.
Brown came out cooking with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first quarter. The rest of the Celtics opened 6-for-22, with Tatum clanging away at just 1-for-6 in the opening stanza.
Marcus Smart and Robert Williams both missed the game with an illness. Dennis Schroder and Grant Williams started in their place, but combined for just 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
It was Boston’s third overtime game of the season and their second double OT affair of the past week.
The Celtics host the 4-1 Bulls Monday night. Chicago plays host to the Jazz Saturday evening. Pregame coverage starts at 7 p.m. Monday on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Sean Sylver can be heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Talk hoops with him on Twitter @TheSylverFox.