BOSTON— Fans were doing the wave throughout the stands. Loud, boisterous chants of ‘Let’s Go Cel-tics!” rang throughout the TD Garden.
And to think, this came with more than seven minutes left to play.
By that point in the game, Boston’s victory over the Washington Wizards was a matter of when, not if it would happen.
Boston delivered yet another devastating beatdown to the Wizards, this time by the tune of 111-78.
Isaiah Thomas led six double-figure scorers for Celtics, with 21 points. Boston also got a strong game from Jared Sullinger who tallied his fifth double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. The 15 rebounds tied his season-high which he has set on two previous occasions.
When the two met on Nov. 6, Boston thrashed them in that game as well, 118-98.
The Celtics opened Friday's game clicking at both ends of the court which allowed them to jump out to a 17-6 lead at the start of the game.
Boston Celtics
Wizards guard Bradley Beal was the one bright spot early on for Washington (6-7), as he scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter. Even with Beal knocking down shots, the Celtics countered by simply knocking down any and all efforts on Washington’s part to make the game competitive.
Washington’s all-star guard John Wall was a non-factor all game, finishing with just 10 points along with four rebounds and six assists. Not bad numbers, but certainly not what a team’s best player should register. But in Wall’s defense, the Celtics made life extremely tough and uncomfortable for all of Washington’s players. And they did it on the defensive end while forcing turnover after turnover.
Boston also punished them with a physical, inside-the-lane game that Washington had no answer for.
It was yet another thorough beatdown of a Wizards team that is careening towards being one of the bigger disappointments in the NBA this season.
As for the Celtics, this was a game in which so many of the things they did well to rally past Philadelphia on Wednesday night for an 84-80 win, were on display 48 hours later.
The only thing Boston had to worry about down the stretch was somebody getting hurt.
But by that point, the only ones feeling pain were Washington players and their egos which were severely bruised by Boston’s bruising style of play which delivered yet another decisive beating.