Wizards Get it Done on "D", Topple Celtics
While it certainly doesn't have the cache like Celtics/Lakers or Celtics/Pistons, the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards have developed quite a rivalry in the last few seasons, with most of the memorable games coming here in The District. Two years ago, spurred on after a trash-talking Gilbert Arenas flipped him the bird, Paul Pierce hit an incredible game winning three pointer with two Wizards draped all over him. Last year, playing without Pierce, a depleted Celtics roster took the Wizards to overtime before ultimately losing in a barn-burner. But Friday night's 85-78 Washington win probably takes the cake. DeShawn Stevenson propelled the Wizards to a late 15-4 run that sealed Washington's biggest win of the season. The Celtics, meanwhile, have lost two of three.
And it wasn't that the Wizards won, so much as how they won. They held the best team in the league to their lowest point total of the season. They outrebounded their opponents 49-30, including an impressive nine offensive rebounds for Antawn Jamison. Jamison couldn't get anything going from the field, shooting 4-15, but being the professional he is, focused on hitting the boards and doing the little things to help his team. Stevenson, long derided for not being able to carry a team offensively, did just that, scoring 19 points, including seven in the last 1:14. His last bucket, a breakaway dunk that was followed by some not-feeling-his-face action, led to some trash talking with the Boston bench.
The Celtics started the game with Tony Allen at the point, due to the back injury Rajon Rondo sustained Friday night in New Jersey. Rondo's absence was very apparent when the Celtics were on offense. The Wizards were aggressively jumping out on every pick and roll and Boston acted as if they had never seen this tactic before. The Wizards' aggressive D had them back on their heels but the Celtics finally snapped out of their slumber in the second quarter when Roger Mason Jr. tripped Kevin Garnett on a breakaway. Trailing by seven at the time, the suddenly energized C's went to Garnett the next few times down the court and drew to within one at the half.
Boston then took a lead early in the third and kept it the kept well into the fourth, until Caron Butler tied the score at 68. The Wizards trailed by four after James Posey hit consecutive three pointers, but the Celtics would score only four points in the last four minutes of the game. Antonio Daniels hit a big three pointer just under the two minute mark, the kind of shot that has you screaming "No!" when he shoots it and "Yes!" when it goes in. Stevenson drew a foul on a three point attempt on Washington's next possession and sank all three ensuing free throws, and that was pretty much the ballgame.
After the game, Celtics coach Doc Rivers made no excuses for his team. "They played great. I thought they outworked us for most part all night. Every loose ball, every long rebound they got to. It's tough to win a game that way," he said. When asked if playing without Rondo hurt his team, he replied flatly, "They played without Gilbert." Paul Pierce agreed. "We've played with Tony in the starting lineup before and we've been successful," he said. "They played good defense. They took us out of our plays and trapped the ball. We just weren't aggressive like we usually are down the stretch."
For Washington, the win was the team's first over a team with a winning record since a December 1st victory over Toronto. But the Wizards won't have long to savor this victory, as the teams face off again tonight in Boston. The Celtics don't take losing lightly. They have yet to lose two in a row this season and their average margin of victory coming off of a loss is 25 points. Game time is 7:30 p.m.