Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics
· National Basketball AssociationPayton Pritchard scores career-high 38 points in Celtics' 132-122 win over Wizards
Svi Mykhailiuk added 26 points and Sam Hauser 16 for Boston, which sat Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday along with top reserve Al Horford.
Pritchard added 12 assists with nine rebounds. In last year’s final regular-season game, the 6-foot-1 Pritchard had a triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, joining Larry Bird and John Havlicek as the only Celtics with at least 30 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in a game.
He picked up his ninth rebound with 5:22 left in the game and played the rest of the way.
“If it came, I'll take it. But I got one last year,” he said, smiling. “It wasn't like I had pressure to get my first triple-double. I'm a pretty good rebounder. So if I get the minutes, I think I'll be able to get another triple-double.”
The Celtics (64-18) finished their 15th season in club history with 60 or more wins, the most recent in 2008 when they captured the NBA title.
Having lost Game 7 at home against Miami in the Eastern Conference finals last spring, anything less than a trip to the NBA Finals this year would very likely be viewed as a disappointment.
“The most important thing getting into a situation is having no expectations,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said of the upcoming postseason. “If you study teams that have even been fortunate enough, and if we're fortunate enough to get to a Finals, if not win it, the road there is always forgotten by the result of winning.”
The Wizards (15-67) ended their third straight season and fifth in the past six without a playoff berth. Eugene Omoruyi led them with a career-best 26 points and Jared Butler had 22 in their sixth straight loss.
“I think we developed a lot of resilience and we developed a competitive atmosphere, and we learned about the process; what it takes to be a really good team," Wizards interim coach Brian Keefe said. "We've still got a lot of work to do, but I think we started laying the foundation for that.”
Pritchard played all 82 games this season. He scored 14 points in the final 2:19 of the opening half, connecting on all four of his 3-point attempts to give Boston a 69-59 halftime edge.
At halftime, the Celtics honored TV play-by-play announcer, Mike Gorman, who is retiring after his 43rd season calling their games. There were many tributes on the Jumbotron from former Boston players and folks around the NBA during timeouts.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Season over.
Celtics: Await their first-round playoff opponent for next Sunday.
Regular Season Series
BOS wins series 4-0
Matchup Prediction
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | End of Game | 122 - 132 | |
4th 0.0 | End of the 4th Quarter | 122 - 132 | |
4th 4.1 | Jared Butler makes 7-foot two point shot | 122 - 132 | |
4th 15.1 | shot clock turnover | 120 - 132 | |
4th 38.1 | Jaden Springer defensive rebound | 120 - 132 |
Statistics
WSH | BOS | |
---|---|---|
49-103 | FG | 51-89 |
47.6 | Field Goal % | 57.3 |
14-38 | 3PT | 16-32 |
36.8 | Three Point % | 50.0 |
10-10 | FT | 14-21 |
100.0 | Free Throw % | 66.7 |
36 | Rebounds | 48 |
8 | Offensive Rebounds | 10 |
28 | Defensive Rebounds | 38 |
33 | Assists | 29 |
9 | Steals | 10 |
4 | Blocks | 15 |
11 | Turnovers | 14 |
1 | Team Turnovers | 3 |
12 | Total Turnovers | 17 |
0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
22 | Points Off Turnovers | 24 |
27 | Fast Break Points | 24 |
68 | Points in Paint | 60 |
16 | Fouls | 13 |
4 | Largest Lead | 24 |
Game Information
Location: Boston, MA
Attendance: 19,156 · Capacity:
2023-24 Southeast Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orlando | 47 | 35 | .573 | - | W1 |
Miami | 46 | 36 | .561 | 1 | W2 |
Atlanta | 36 | 46 | .439 | 11 | L6 |
Charlotte | 21 | 61 | .256 | 26 | W1 |
Washington | 15 | 67 | .183 | 32 | L6 |
2023-24 Atlantic Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston | 64 | 18 | .780 | - | W2 |
New York | 50 | 32 | .610 | 14 | W5 |
Philadelphia | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17 | W8 |
Brooklyn | 32 | 50 | .390 | 32 | L2 |
Toronto | 25 | 57 | .305 | 39 | L4 |
NBA News
Windy explains Carlisle ejection, where Pacers go from here
Brian Windhorst says Rick Carlisle's Game 2 ejection was more about overcorrecting the officiating in Game 1.
From KG to Ant: Timberwolves superstardom has a new chapter
History repeats itself as Anthony Edwards has taken on the role of the Timberwolves' first true superstar since Kevin Garnett.
Jalen Brunson discusses Knicks' injuries, mindset after Game 2 win
Jalen Brunson chats with Scott Van Pelt following the Knicks' 130-121 win over the Pacers in Game 2.
Rick Carlisle on ejection: Pacers 'deserve a fair shot'
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle expresses his frustrations about the officiating in Game 2 and reflects on being ejected in the fourth quarter.
Knicks battle through injuries to beat Pacers, take 2-0 series lead
Despite Jalen Brunson getting shaken up early and OG Anunoby leaving with an injury, the Knicks surge in the second half to defeat the Pacers in Game 2.