Celtics Dominate Wizards 124-90 Despite Key Absences

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics put on a dominating performance against the Washington Wizards on April 6, 2025, winning decisively 124-90 at TD Garden. Despite missing key players Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness), the Celtics showcased their depth and offensive prowess, improving their record to 58-20.

The game was practically over before it began, as the Celtics jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first eight points and establishing a commanding 34-18 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Boston's offense was firing on all cylinders, particularly from beyond the arc, where they shot 24-of-52 (46.2%) compared to Washington's 12-of-45 (26.7%).

Derrick White led the Celtics with 19 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, while Luke Kornet and Al Horford contributed double-doubles, with Kornet scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, and Horford adding 11 points and 10 rebounds. Payton Pritchard also had a stellar outing off the bench, scoring 20 points and helping the Celtics' reserves to a combined 53 points.

For the Wizards, who are struggling at the bottom of the league with a 17-61 record, Justin Champagnie and Alex Sarr were the standout performers, scoring 15 and 16 points, respectively. However, the Wizards were severely undermanned, resting several key players, including Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Smart, as part of a tanking strategy aimed at improving their chances for the upcoming NBA Draft.

While the game was largely a showcase for the Celtics, there was a notable moment involving Smart, who received a warm ovation from the Boston crowd during warmups. However, tensions flared when he got into a verbal altercation with a fan behind the Wizards' bench in the fourth quarter, leading to the fan's ejection. Smart later commented, "We all know I don’t do line-crossing. And that was it. We move on. [It’s] unfortunate. You never want to see that, especially for a guy who’s coming back and who’s given this city everything he has. But it is what it is."

The Celtics continued their offensive onslaught throughout the game, leading by 21 points at halftime and extending their lead to as much as 36 in the second half. They dominated the boards, finishing with a season-high 62 rebounds, including 25 offensive rebounds that translated into 32 second-chance points. Kornet's nine offensive rebounds were a career high, demonstrating his importance to the team.

Jaylen Brown, despite playing through a knee injury, added 15 points and five assists in just 22 minutes of action. The Celtics' ability to maintain a high level of play without their top scorers speaks volumes about their depth and versatility as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla praised his team's effort, stating, "You don’t know who you’re going to play (in the playoffs), you don’t know what the matchups are going to be. Every team is better than us at something, so we have to be as versatile as we can to go to what we need to go to, depending upon who we’re playing. And the guys are buying into that, and they’re competing. So we’ve just got to keep that up."

Looking ahead, the Celtics will face the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic in their next two games before finishing the regular season with two home games against the Charlotte Hornets. Meanwhile, the Wizards will travel to Indiana for their next matchup.

With their impressive victory, the Celtics continue to solidify their position as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, demonstrating that they are a formidable force even when faced with adversity.