The Celtics were due for a blowout and they finally got one after 24 minutes of domination in the first half against the Grizzlies. Kyrie Irving scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half and the Celtics led by as many as 28 points before intermission before cruising to a 109-98 win.
It was the third straight win for the Celtics since returning from the All-Star break and it featured another big night from Boston's reserves. Seven players combined to score 52 points off the pine, leading a balanced night for the hosts which included give players in double figures.
Memphis were led by JaMychal Green (21 points, 11 rebounds) in the defeat and have now lost 10 straight games overall.
GAME: No. 62 of 82
WHO: Celtics (42-19) vs. Grizzlies (18-40)
WHEN: 7:30 EST
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 98.5 the Sports Hub
TV: NBC Sports Boston
Projected starters
Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes
Grizzlies
PG: Andrew Harrison
SG: Dillon Brooks
F: Jarell Martin
F: JaMychal Green
C: Marc Gasol
First Half Notes
- A sluggish start on the defensive end for the C's as Grizz jumped out to an 8-1 run. Brad Stevens looked particularly frustrated with a couple offensive decisions by Jaylen Brown.
- The tide turned very quickly however as the C's offense got rolling against an unmotivated Memphis squad that has tanking on their mind.
- Kyrie Irving served as the offensive leader for the second straight game, setting the tone with 11 points and 4 assists in the frame with some red hot shooting for himself and unselfish kickouts and extra passes to shooters.
- Aron Baynes looked sharp in his return from an elbow strain with a couple midrange jumpers and added a couple blocks to boot. Jayson Tatum had a nice one as well.
- The Grizzlies hung tight until the closing minutes of the frame with some nice shot making from Marc Gasol and Mario Chalmers (in the face of good Celtics defense, but the second unit found some separation from there.
- Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart got open looks from deep, which helped produce a 8-of-11 quarter from 3-point range. Boston took 20 field goal attempts on the whole.
- Celtics added to a nine-point first quarter lead with a 14-4 run by the all bench mob at the start of the second quarter. They extended it to a 23-6 outburst by the time the starters returned to the game at the six minutes mark of the second quarter.
- Semi Ojeleye has appeared to give up shooting entirely (zero shot attempts) in first 2.5 games since the All-Star break, but that's not a bad thing given his 30 percent shooting. As a defensive specialist, the C's are getting the most out of him.
- Aron Baynes will return to the starting lineup after suffering a sprained elbow during Friday's win over the Pistons. He received an MRI on Sunday and missed just one game with the injury.
- Tyreke Evans (ribs) and Chandler Parsons (illness) will both miss tonight's game. Mike Conley remains out for the season with a left heel injury.
- The Grizzlies are tied for the longest active losing streak in the league with nine straight defeats.
- Marcus Smart is shooting 64 percent from the field (9-of-14) in two games since returning from his hand injury. That's nearly 30 percentage points above his season average.