So far in their second round playoff series, both teams have notched wins at home, with the Celtics leading 2-1 and with the Wizards defending home ground tomorrow, May 8.
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Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3), left, and Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2), second from left, react after Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, right, speaks to Beal on the sideline during the second half in. That Game 5 was at home; Wednesday’s is in Boston, a place they haven’t won all season. I still have a rule about turning down free points with the better team, and with Washington undermanned, I’m going to stick to that rule even though it made me look stupid in game three. The Wizards, according to Coach Scott Brooks, played perhaps their best stretch of the season on that front during a 26-0 run in the third quarter that allowed them to pull away for good in securing a second straight double-digit victory and improving to 5-0 at home in this postseason.
The reason the Wizards have been able to go on these insane runs is because of the fact that Boston keeps giving the ball away.
There were eight technical fouls and three ejections total. His two free throws gave Washington its largest lead at 86-60.
The Wizards broke out to another fast start with an 8-0 run to start the game. Last game it was in the first quarter, (Game 4) it was in the third quarter.
“It’s on us to let this sink in and understand we gotta come back better, individual and team-wise”, DeRozan said. “It was important that we got hands on 50-50 balls and be able to convert on the opposite end”.
But James’ ability to affect every aspect of the game has become so overwhelming that even his opponents believe his presence makes all the difference in the world. “That’s what happened in the third quarter”. “I think especially in that third quarter I might have hit the ground five or six straight times”.
“Just from my team I know that I have to be aggressive – offensively and defensively”, Wall said about getting going after a slow start. “That’s the bottom line: We have to play better out of the gate than we’ve played”. His loss is huge and could have a serious impact on who wins this game.
Celtics star guard Isaiah Thomas made his first five shots, which were all three-pointers for 15 points.
This was one of Wall’s signature games..
The Washington Wizards are clear favorites to win this game as well, laying 4.5 points to the opposition, a bit lower than the previous, must-win game.
The Celtics’ main area of improvement in Game 5 will have to be taking care of the ball. Washington outrebounded Boston 54-39, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second chance points. Judging by Wall’s smiles and Otto Porter Jr’s howls, the Wizards had too much fun in outscoring Boston 42-20.
In that span, the Wizards forced Boston to miss five shots, but they also harassed the Celtics into eight of their 18 turnovers.
“[The Wizards] were very physical”, he said. “There is no way little guys should be rebounding over us”.
“Definitely, we were up six with two minutes left in that game”, Morris said of Game 2. Washington have just nine turnovers and 26 assists.
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ABOUT THE WIZARDS: The tension between the teams goes back to the regular season, and shooting guard Bradley Beal is trying to keep his Washington teammates under control.
