Jayson Tatum had 32 points, Jaylen Brown had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics held off Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards 116-107 Friday night for their fourth straight win.
Beal had 41 points and eight rebounds a game after tying the franchise record with 60 points against the 76ers.
Tatum hit 14 of 27 shots to power the short-handed Celtics, who were without Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams. The trio is sidelined in COVID-19 health and safety protocol for the next seven days.
Rui Hachimura had 17 points and Davis Bertans had 13 as the Wizards dropped to 2-7.
The Celtics were cruising early, outscoring the Wizards 33-19 in the second quarter. They increased a 19-point halftime lead to 28 in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
The Wizards rallied from there, clawing within 99-95 with 7:36 left in the game.
Boston scored seven straight points to build a small cushion. It was 106-101 when Marcus Smart led a fast break and found Brown for a corner 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining.
Russell Westbrook was in action just two days after dislocating a finger on his right hand late in Washingtons loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday night. He played with his right ring and pinkie fingers taped together. He finished with 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting from the field.
Daniel Theis started at center for Boston and picked up two quick fouls, prompting coach Brad Stevens to play second-year, 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall for just the second time this season. Fall made the most of the opportunity, coming up with a block at the rim on Westbrook in the first quarter. He also was the recipient of an alley-oop from Brown in the second.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Despite playing the 76ers on Wednesday, a day before Philadelphia guard Seth Curry tested positive for the coronavirus, coach Scott Brooks said they havent had any positive tests. … Westbrook was assessed a technical foul from the bench in the third quarter.
Celtics: Had a pregame moment of silence for former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal, then continued to take a knee for the national anthem. Westphal was a member of the Celtics 1973-74 championship team. … G Jeff Teague returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle. … Led by 21 in the first half. … Semi Ojeleye scored eight straight points in the opening three minutes of the third quarter.
WALKER CLEARED FOR PRACTICE
Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker has been cleared to begin practicing.
Walker hasnt played this season after receiving a stem cell injection in his left knee prior to the start of training camp last month. Hes been on a 12-week strengthening program since the early October procedure.
Stevens said Walkers been pain-free during individual workouts and that the next step is for him to go through some live practices with teammates.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Host the Heat on Saturday.
Celtics: Host the Heat on Sunday.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Associated Press)
