Installment #23: Boston Celtics Advance to Playoffs
In the second game last night, the Boston Celtics came back to beat the Washington Wizards 118-100 in the play-in tournament. Forward Jayson Tatum, the former Duke standout, dropped 50 points on the Wizards, 32 of which came in the second half. Guard Kemba Walker added 29 points for the Celtics.
Bradley Beal scored 22 points and Russell Westbrook added 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, who led 54-52 at the half. But the Celtics opened the second half on a 22-4 run, opening up a 74-58 lead. The Wizards closed to a 91-84 deficit in the fourth quarter, but then Boston went on a 15-6 run to take a 106-88 lead with just over five minutes to go in the game. They never looked back from there.
The Boston Celtics have secured the 7th seed in the east and a series with the No. 2 seed Brooklyn Nets. That series begins on Saturday. Washington hosts the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night for the No. 8 seed. The winner of that game will play the No. 1 seed Philadelphia 76ers in a best of seven series beginning this weekend. The looser goes home for the summertime.
