With 50 points from their young star Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics beat the Washington Wizards 118-100 this Tuesday in the ‘play in’ (repechage) and made it to the NBA playoffs.
The Celtics advanced to the postseason as seventh in the Eastern conference and will play the first round against the fearsome Brooklyn Nets of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, who finished second.
The Wizards, meanwhile, will have a second chance to get the ticket in Thursday’s decisive game against the Indiana Pacers, who destroyed the Charlotte Hornets (144-117) this Tuesday in the other ‘play in’ crossing.
Without his great partner Jaylen Brown, injured for the remainder of the season, Jayson Tatum put the Celtics on their backs in a spectacular second half in which he scored 32 of his 50 points, to which he also added 5 triples, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks.
My mentality was “to be the best on the court,” explained the 23-year-old forward. “It’s what I told myself before the game: ‘Do what you have to do to win and be the best on the court.”
“If he did that, we were going to have a good chance of winning,” stressed the two-time All-Star.
Tatum’s display neutralized the Wizards figures, who were arriving in good form.
Bradley Beal, second leading scorer of the season, finished with 22 points and Russell Westbrook, who broke the all-time triple-doubles record this month, did so with 20 points and 14 rebounds on a very unfortunate night on shooting (6 of 18 shooting). ).
The Celtics came into the game at one of their lowest moments of the season, with just 4 wins in the last 13 games, while the Wizards had finished the regular season like a shot, with 15 wins in 20 games.
The game came even at halftime, with a 54-52 advantage for Washington, and several Celtics players retiring to the bench due to physical problems, such as Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III.
But right back from the locker room, Tatum and Kemba Walker (29 points) riddled the Wizards in triples until they achieved a 22-4 run that they no longer let themselves go for the rest of the game. (GG) (AFP)
– Program of the ‘play in’ of the Eastern conference of the NBA
– Tuesday 18
Indiana Pacers (9th) – Charlotte Hornets (10th) 144-117
Boston Celtics (7th) – Washington Wizards (8th) 118-100 (Boston gets first playoff berth)
– Thursday 20
Washington Wizards vs Indiana Pacers – Winner earns second playoff berth