The Boston Celtics on Wednesday continued their home-court mastery over Washington, taking charge early and going on to beat the Wizards 123-101 to grab a 3-2 lead in their second-round series.
Avery Bradley tallied a post-season career high 29 points in the blowout as Boston can now advance to meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the next round with a victory today in Washington.
“Everyone was prepared, and that’s what it’s all about,” Bradley said.
Photo: David Butler II-USA Today
The Celtics and Wizards have played nine times this year and the home team has won all nine games. Boston have now won eight straight overall at the TD Garden over Washington.
The Celtics got on an early 16-0 run and never looked back. Their first-quarter burst came after the Wizards scored the first four points of the game.
Bradley, who is playing with a sore hip, scored 25 points in the first half as the Celtics compiled a 22-point halftime lead.
“He put his injuries aside, and laced his shoes up and played,” teammate Isaiah Thomas said of Bradley. “He was the key to this game at both ends of the floor.”
Bradley hit his final basket with 5 minutes, 55 seconds left in the third quarter and rested in the fourth.
Al Horford finished with 19 points, and added seven assists and six rebounds for Boston.
Thomas and Jae Crowder both scored 18, Thomas with nine assists and Crowder with eight rebounds.
Thomas scored eight consecutive points in the fourth with Bradley on the bench.
Thomas said the coaching staff did a good job of getting them ready for Game 5.
“We just wanted to impose our will,” Thomas said. “The coaches kept saying that: ‘Impose your will.’ We were the more physical team tonight. We took what was on the whiteboard and we put it on the court.”
John Wall led the Wizards with 21 points, while Bradley Beal had 16 and Otto Porter added 13.
The Wizard guards combined to go just 14 of 36 from the floor and two of seven from three-point range.
“When you give a very good team transition points and breakaway points with nobody guarding you ... it’s going to be hard to keep up with them,” Washington coach Scott Brooks said. “We had no answers for those guys. We’ve done a pretty good job on their best player, but not [a] good enough job on the other guys.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely