The Boston Celtics came out to play the Washington Wizards on the road for their third game of the 2023-24 NBA season with the Wiz without starting center Daniel Gafford with a mostly healthy roster, and it went about as well for Washington as one might expect it given Boston’s designs on hanging a banner and Washington’s on securing a lottery pick.
The Celtics hung 42 points on the Wiz in the first quarter alone to Washington’s 19 and would finish the game with a 126-107 win despite the starters sitting for the entire final frame after putting up a total of 100 points in the first three quarters.
Jaylen Brown put up a team-high 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, Jayson Tatum 33 points and 6 boards, Kristaps Porzingis 15 points and 6 boards, Jrue Holiday 11 points and 5 boards, and Derrick White 5 points and 8 assists.
Celtics Lab 225: On Boston looking good to start the season and what they can do to get better with Yossi Gozlan https://t.co/AKf0Pa3OF0 pic.twitter.com/2ILO3KHS72
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 28, 2023
The Celtics’ bench did not manage much in the time they had even with the fourth quarter to themselves, but given the strength of Boston’s play in this early-season tilt, there’s still plenty of time to integrate the rotation players more firmly into contests in the future.
Boston next plays the Indiana Pacers at home on Wed., Nov.1.
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