Boston Celtics clobber John Wall-less Washington Wizards
The Boston Celtics continued to prove that they are the team-to-beat in the Eastern Conference when they posted a lopsided 114-83 victory over the Washington Wizards, who played without John
Wall, on Wednesday 17 November at the TD Garden.
Paul Pierce had a game-high 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the field, while Kevin Garnett chipped in 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Celtics, who had six double-digit scorers,
but their defence was the deciding factor in the game.
“For two days it's all we worked on,” Celtics head coach Doc Rivers on their defensive performance. “We are a defensive spurt team, but I thought tonight we had incredible defensive focus.
We have to be a defensive team.”
Shaquille O’Neal finished with 13 points and six rebounds, while Rajon Rondo had another outstanding night as he racked up 12 points and dished out 13 assists for Boston, who had the luxury
of resting their starters in the fourth quarter after building a 20-point lead heading into the final period.
“You've got to get yourself thrown back into the season,” said Rivers when asked about limiting the minutes of his key players. “But now it's time to get our minutes to where we want them.”
The Celtics’ reserves also responded to the challenge in the final period as they managed to increase their 20-point lead to 37 points, 114-77, with 1:20 left in the game.
Ray Allen added 11 points for the Celtics, while Delonte West racked up 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his season debut with Boston, after serving a 10-game suspension after
pleading guilty to weapon charges.
“He looked really good,” said Garnett on West, who signed with the Celtics during the off-season. “We were just happy he was out there. He is going to be big for us”
Nick Young paced the Wizards with his 20 points, Al Thornton had 15, while Andray Blatche and Kirk Hinrich added 10 points apiece, but the Celtics were simply too much for them tonight, especially
without Wall, who missed his second-straight game with a sprained foot.
“They're built for a championship; we're rebuilding,” said Gilbert Arenas, who started in Wall’s absence and finished with nine points on 3-for-11 shooting from the field. “These are the
games when you're on the playground and you beat somebody up, and then the real bully comes and beats you up.”
The Wizards, who hammered out a convincing win against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday 16 November, dropped their seventh in their first ten games this season.
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