Short-handed Wizards rout Celtics 130-111
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON - Kristaps Porzingis had 32 points and 13 rebounds, and the Washington Wizards boosted their flickering postseason hopes with a 130-111 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
The Wizards won despite the absence of Bradley Beal (left knee soreness) and Kyle Kuzma (right ankle sprain) and pulled within 2 1/2 games of Chicago for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Washington has six games remaining in the regular season.
The Celtics had their three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the top record in the NBA.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 28 points, but the Celtics trailed 64-51 at halftime, and then their deficit rose to as many as 23 points in the third quarter.
Milwaukee plays at Indiana on Wednesday before a showdown Thursday against the Celtics.
Deni Avdija matched a career high with 25 points and added 10 rebounds for Washington. Monte Morris scored 19 points.
Jaylen Brown contributed 18 points for the Celtics.
The Wizards went 1 of 8 from 3-point range in the first quarter but still led 29-23. Their shooting picked up in a big way - they finished 13 of 37 from beyond the arc - and Boston never mounted much of a challenge in the second half.
The Celtics substituted liberally in the fourth quarter and actually cut the lead down to 13, but then Avdija had a steal and dunk and the Wizards held on without any trouble.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Tatum played 32 minutes, and no other Boston player reached that total. ... Marcus Smart scored 14 points and Malcolm Brogdon added 13.
Wizards: Washington was actually down three starters. In addition to Beal and Kuzma, Daniel Gafford missed the game with left foot soreness.
UP NEXT
Celtics: At Milwaukee on Thursday night.
Wizards: Host Orlando on Friday night.