Final: Celtics 140, Wizards 133 -- C's win shootout for ninth straight win

With Daniel Theis and Rob Williams sidelined with injuries, the Celtics turned into an offense-first team against a Wizards squad that has not been interested in playing much defense all year long. The end result was one of the highest-scoring games in the NBA this year with the C’s scoring over 34 points in all four quarters. After a back-and-forth affair through the first three quarters, the C’s broke things open in the fourth quarter riding seven different players in double figures to their ninth straight win. Kemba Walker led the way with 25 points, while Jaylen Brown chipped in with 20 second half points. Enes Kanter had a season-high 13 points and 9 rebounds in his second start of the year filling in for Daniel Theis while Boston’s bench backcourt combined for 28 points to help keep Bradley Beal (44 points) from shooting the visitors back into the game.

The C's now have won nine straight games leading into their five-game west coast trip which starts on Friday night in Golden State. 

TWO UP

Jayson Tatum:  The swingman shook off a historically bad shooting night on Monday with a team-high 15 first half points on 7-of-13 shooting. He’s been having his way with a Wizards frontcourt that’s highly lacking in the defense department between Troy Brown Jr. and rookie Rui Hachimura, producing plenty of open looks inside the arc.

Marcus Smart: The 3-point shooting bump that Smart saw last season continues to look like less of a fluke with each passing game. He knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half alone, helping jump his season average to 38 percent on the year from downtown. With more offense needed from him in the wake of Hayward’s injury, Smart is stepping up to the plate.

TWO DOWN

Jaylen Brown: His hot streak came to a crashing halt in the first half, missing his first five shots of the game before knocking one down in the second quarter. He ultimately finished with just two points in 17 first half minutes, failing to get in on the shootout in the first half.

Celtics’ defense: Without Daniel Theis or Rob Williams available, the C’s defense fell apart at the seams for most of the first half. The wizards shot 49 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range, finding plenty of easy looks within a C’s defense that couldn’t prevent open looks at the rim with Kanter patrolling the middle.

• Rob Williams was a late scratch due to a sore right ankle. He went through shootaround on Wednesday morning but informed the training staff it was feeling off and the team ruled him out.


• Daniel Theis will not play as well due to a sore right pinky. He jammed it during Monday's win and still does not feel comfortable with it. He remains day-to-day.


• Enes Kanter will get the start at center for the C's with Theis sidelined.


• Brad Stevens on the return of Isaiah Thomas to the Garden as a starting point guard: Been well-documented that he’s a special guy, and it’s fun to see this early part of the year, after he got through the training camp injury on his hand, to get back through more quickly than everyone anticipated, because he loves to play. Get out on the court and ultimately now is playing well. We’re obviously well-aware of what he’s capable of, but he’s a special guy, and I can’t say enough good things about him.