Tatum and Brown lead the Celtics to a decisive 122-102 victory over the Wizards in their first road game.
Jayson Tatum recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds in just 29 minutes, leading the Boston Celtics to a comfortable 122-102 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday evening.
Jaylen Brown contributed 27 points during the Celtics' inaugural road game of the season. Derrick White added 19 points, while Payton Pritchard chipped in with 15, as the defending NBA champions extended their winning streak against Washington to five games.
Jordan Poole scored 20 of his 26 points prior to halftime in the Wizards' season opener, while Jonas Valanciunas made a notable debut with 18 points for Washington.
After establishing their first double-digit lead just before halftime, the Celtics dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Wizards 34-19, effectively sealing the game.
Celtics: In their title defense, Boston has yet to face significant challenges, winning both of their opening games comfortably. Tatum did not participate in the fourth quarter, and Brown and White were the last starters to exit the game with 8:04 remaining.
Wizards: Featuring rookies Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington in an exceptionally young starting lineup, the first half showcased a promising performance. However, Washington's struggles in the third quarter reflected a persistent issue from the previous season. Carrington's night concluded prematurely due to a potential injury sustained from an awkward fall in the fourth quarter.
Boston finished the first half with a 10-1 run, establishing their largest lead at that point. Tatum connected on two 3-pointers, one from each side, and assisted Brown on consecutive running layups, giving Boston a 64-54 lead.
The average age of Washington’s starting lineup was 22.72 years, making it the youngest in the NBA this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and the youngest for the franchise since the league began tracking starters in 1970.
Both teams are set to play again on Saturday, with Boston heading to Detroit and the Wizards hosting Cleveland.
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