The Celtics are in search of their 2nd straight win as they tackle the Wizards in Washington. That is the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics beat the Wizards 122-102 in Washington of their 2nd recreation of the season. In addition they beat them 108-96 on November 22, additionally in Washington. They’ll play one another for the 4th and ultimate time in Boston on April 6. The Celtics swept the collection 4-0 final season. The Celtics are 204-120 general all time and they’re 98-76 in Washington.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 1.5 video games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and 4 video games forward of the third place Orlando Magic. They’re 9-2 on the street and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 18-3 in opposition to Jap Convention opponents and are in search of their 2nd straight win. The Wizards are fifteenth within the East, 17.5 video games behind Cleveland. They’re 2-9 at residence and 1-9 of their final 10 video games. They’re 2-13 in opposition to Jap Convention groups.
Within the off season, the Wizards added 3 first spherical picks from this 12 months’s draft: 2nd choose Alex Sarr, 14th choose Carlton “Bub” Carrington, and twenty fourth choose Kyshawn George. In addition they added Key veterans Jonas Valenciunas, former Celtic Malcolm Brogdon, Saddiq Bey, and Anthony Gill. In addition they traded Deni Avdija and misplaced Tyus Jones to free company. The Celtics, as we all know, are principally the identical group as final 12 months’s championship group.
The Celtics simply completed a troublesome stretch of 5 video games in 7 nights however performed only one recreation since Saturday 12/7 once they completed a 5 recreation residence stand after video games in opposition to Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Memphis as the primary 4 video games within the residence stand. They’ll face Chicago at residence on 12/19 and at Chicago in a house and residential set. They then journey to Orlando earlier than one other 4 recreation residence stand the place they host Philadelphia, Indiana twice, and Toronto.
The Wizards are enjoying within the 1st of two residence video games and can face the Charlotte Hornets at residence on December 19 as their subsequent recreation. They’ll then play at Milwaukee and at Oklahoma Metropolis earlier than a 4 recreation residence stand the place they may host Charlotte, the New York Knicks twice, and Chicago on New Yr’s Day. This recreation was added for each the Celtics and the Wizards after each groups didn’t advance within the Emirates NBA Cup Match.
After sitting out the Celtics final recreation in opposition to the Pistons with knee soreness, Jayson Tatum is anticipated to return to motion on this recreation. Sam Hauser, who sat out Tthursday’s win over the Pistons, can be anticipated to be energetic for this recreation. Jaden Springer, who missed the sport with an sickness, can be off the harm report right now. The one participant listed on the harm report is Al Horford who will likely be held out for relaxation on this recreation regardless of enjoying only one recreation within the 7 days earlier than this recreation.
The Wizards have 6 gamers on their harm report. Kyle Kuzma is out with a rib harm. Malcolm Brogdon is o ut with a hamstring harm. Saddiq Bey is out with a knee harm. Corey Kispert is out with an ankle harm. and a couple of manner participant, Tristan Vukcevic is out with a knee harm. One other two manner participant and former Celtic, Justin Champagnie is beginning rather than the injured Kyle Kuzma.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics ReservesLuke KornetPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaSam HauserBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerXavier Tillman, SrJordan Walsh
2 Means PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutAl Horford (relaxation) out
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Wizards Starters
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Wizards Reserves Marvin Bagley IIIPatrick Baldwin, JrJohnny DavisAnthony Gill Richaun HolmesJonas Valanciunas
2-Means PlayersJared ButlerJustin ChampagnieTristan Vukcevic
Accidents/Out Saddiq Bey (knee) out Tristan Vukcevic (knee) out Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) outKyshawn George (ankle) outCorey Kispert (ankle) outKyle Kuzma (ribs) out
Head Coach Brian Keefe
Key Matchups
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Derrick White
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos
Jordan Poole
Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Photos
Derrick White vs Jordan PoolePoole is averaging 20.2 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.7 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 43.5% from the sector and 40% from past the arc. Within the first 2 gamea in opposition to the Celtics, Poole averaged 24.5 factors, 1.5 rebounds, 6 assists, and a couple of.5 steals whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 50% from past the arc. The Celtics want to stick with him on the perimeter as he’s a menace to hit his 3’s. He’s additionally a menace to steal the ball if the Celtics get sloppy.
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Jaylen Brown
Picture By Winslow Townson/Getty Photos
Bilal Coulibaly
Picture by Stephen Gosling/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Jaylen Brown vs Bilal CoulibalyCoulibaly is averaging 12.5 factors, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 44.3% from the sector and 30.4% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics he averaged 7 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals whereas capturing 27.3% from the sector and 16.7% from past the arc. The Celtics have to as soon as once more defend him properly on this one.
Honorable Point out Kristaps Porzingis vs Alex SarrSarr is averaging 10.7 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks. He’s capturing 39.3% from the sector and 26.1% from past the arc. Within the first 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics, he averaged 4.0 factors, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 help and 1.5 blocks whereas capturing 25% from the sector and no 3 pointers. Porzingis didn’t play in both of the primary 2 video games in opposition to his former group so will doubtless look to present a bit of further on this one.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is all the time the important thing to successful. The Celtics received their championship final season with robust, bodily protection. To repeat, they might want to as soon as once more make protection a precedence. The Celtics are ninth with a defensive ranking of 110.3 whereas the Wizards are twenty ninth with a defensive ranking of 119.0. The Celtics have been first within the league on protection final season and they should get again to enjoying that robust lock down protection each recreation this season. The Celtics particularly have to defend the paint as a result of the Wizards aren’t particularly a giant 3 level capturing group and the Celtics are twenty fifth, permitting 51.5 factors within the paint per recreation.
Rebound – The Celtics are 14th with 44.0 rebounds per recreation whereas the Wizards are twenty second with 42.9 rebounds per recreation. Once more, the Celtics have been 2nd final season with 46.7 rebounds per recreation with principally the identical roster. It’s vital for the Celtics to rebound to present themselves further possessions and to restrict their opponents’ possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and when the Celtics give further effort and hustle on the boards, it often interprets into the remainder of their recreation. Every participant must decide to crashing the boards and going after each rebound on each ends of the courtroom.
Don’t Underestimate – That is most likely the largest lure recreation of the season for the Celtics. The Wizards are final within the league and lacking starters and rotation gamers. This has been a recipe for catastrophe previously for the Celtics. The Celtics can’t take the Wizards with no consideration, although they’re clearly tanking and lacking gamers. Even tanking groups need to beat the Celtics. The Wizards 3 wins got here in opposition to the Hawks twice and the Nuggets, each good groups. The Celtics should take the Wizards critically and play them as in the event that they have been the highest group within the league.
Most Effort for 48 Minutes – The Celtics losses this season will be traced again to an absence of effort. Additionally, at occasions plainly they both begin off slowly and find yourself in a gap that they should dig themselves out of or they soar out to a lead solely to let up within the second half and permit their opponent to get again into the sport and make it shut. The Celtics should get again to enjoying laborious on each ends of the courtroom for the total 48 minutes with no let up.
X-Components On the Highway and Focus – The Celtics are enjoying on the street as soon as once more after a 5 recreation residence stand. They’ve to beat the distractions that include enjoying on the street like journey, staying in inns, lacking household, an unfamiliar constructing and a hostile crowd. They’ve to remain centered on enjoying Celtics basketball the best manner and never on the Pistons’ document or lacking gamers.
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