Final: Celtics 107, Wizards 96 -- C's use big fourth quarter to snap four-game losing streak

It wasn’t pretty but the Celtics fought through their usual second and third quarter adversity and held the Wizards to just 15 fourth-quarter points, which enabled them pull away with a 107-96 victory on Friday night. Al Horford led a balanced Celtics offense with a team-high 18 points while Kyrie Irving chipped in with a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists. Seven different players scored in double figures as the C’s snapped their four-game losing streak with a much-needed win before a brutal portion of the schedule in the next two weeks. Bradley Beal had a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds for Washington in the setback.

First Half Notes

• Smart playing with force early


• Horford playing hard in post early with great position, good D from Tatum on perimeter early on during 13-2 start.


• Wizards looked absolutely atrociously early, missing their first ten shots from the field before knocking down a field goal with 6:12 remaining.


• Celtics did not play great early, but they did with a lot more urgency. They corralled loose balls, didn’t make many careless mistakes and just played with purpose on way to 17-6 run to start the game.


• Irving with four assists in the first five minutes. He’s been looking for others more than his shot early.


• Horford asserting himself more than usual early with eight points in just seven minutes


• Tatum with a couple early nice steals


• Daniel Theis was a big boost for the second unit with a made open 3 and a couple strong takes to the rim.


• C’s led by as many as 15 in the first quarter.


• It remains baffling to me how the Bulls thought Jabari Parker was worthy of $20 million before this season.


• Beal was 4-of-8 in the first quarter with 10 points, but the rest of the Wizards were just 3-of-15.


• Atrocious basketball from both teams to start the second quarter. Just three points combined in first three minutes with turnovers, missed layups and forced jumpers to boot.


• Stevens needs to get away from all bench plus Morris lineups. They just don’t have enough offense in them to be sustainable at the moment.


• 16-4 run midway through the second quarter as the C’s offense goes to their second quarter blues thanks to a collection of missed shots and turnovers.


• Ugly transition defense from the C’s has given Wizards 21 fast break points in the first quarter. Al Horford helped them right the ship before half, but still a horrific second quarter on the whole as they head to half with 49-45 lead.


• GAME: No. 63 of 82
  WHO: Celtics (37-25) vs. Wizards (25-36)
  WHEN: 8:00 p.m.
  WHERE: TD Garden
  RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
  TV: NBC Sports Boston

• The Celtics have lost four straight and six of their last eight games overall. They will have Terry Rozier back on Friday night though after he missed Wednesday's contest with a sore knee. Daniel Theis also expects to play despite a sore knee.


• The Wizards have lost four of their last five games and have the fifth-worst defense in the NBA this year.


• Aron Baynes went through a workout at the team's shootaround today and could return as soon as Sunday afternoon against the Rockets after an 11-game absence due to a sore foot.


• Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris are the two worst 3-point shooters among the C's roster players this month and also lead the team in attempts per game (over five), a likely cause in the team's recent losing funk.