Final: Celtics 130, Wizards 121 - Brown's 36 helps hold off late Wizards charge

Game 20: Celtics (-7.5) vs. Washington Wizards, 6:00 p.m., TD Garden, NBCS Boston

Injuries: 

Boston: Danilo Gallinari, Robert Williams, Jayson Tatum (ankle)

Washington: Delon Wright (hamstring), Rui Hachimura (questionable, ankle), Kyle Kuzma (questionable, back), Monte Morris (questionable, ankle), Johnny Davis (questionable, groin)

Wizards probable starters: Bradley Beal, Monte Morris, Korey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis

Refs: Pat Fraher (#26), Ashley Moyer-Gleich (#13), Jenna Schroeder (#84)

Last time they played: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown came out blistering hot, combining to outscore the Wizards themselves in the first quarter. They built the lead up to 24 before an 18-5 Wizards run cut the lead to 11 at the half. They floated around a 12-16 point lead for most of the third quarter until Malcolm Brogdon scored 9 straight points in a 15-6 third quarter run that turned a 12-point game into a 21-point game. Bradley Beal struggled, putting up zero points until the 2:29 mark of the third.

How Boston wins: The Wizards have the fifth-worst offense in the league, so don’t overreact to anything Beal does on offense. He most certainly won’t go scoreless through most of three quarters again, so don’t get too bothered by him going for 30-something. He scores more in losses (23.3 vs 22.8 per game), and he averages more assists in wins (6.3 to 5.3). Don’t let Beal make other guys better. They don’t have the firepower on their own.

On offense, it’ll be about generating good looks from 3 again. The Wizards allow the seventh-lowest percentage at the rim and fifth-lowest in the paint overall. They will collapse on drives so the drive-and-kick game should be working in high gear tonight. The last time around, Boston outscored Washington 63-21 from beyond the arc.

“I love three-pointers. I like math. I like open threes,” Joe Mazzulla said after that game. “The thing we have to learn on the offensive end is just making sure we're getting the best actual shot every time down. And regardless of if it goes in or not. It's a good shot.”

How Washington wins: They need someone to step up and help Beal. Kyle Kuzma (if he plays) is a candidate to go off. He averages five more points per game in wins than in losses. The Wizards are also pretty good attacking the offensive glass. Those kept Washington in the game the first time around, and it can happen again. They're third in the NBA in points per play in putback opportunities, so the Celtics need to box out. 

Things I’m looking for:

- Keep Porzingis Cold: Over the last four games, Porzingis is shooting 34.2% (22.2% 3pt.). Marcus Smart does a great job frustrating Porzingis, and I always look forward to Smart going up against big men, so this should be a fun one again. I’m really being adamant about not overreacting to Beal because Porzingis could be the guy that burns Boston if they do.

- Rim protection: Washington only takes 30% of their shots at the rim, but they are the best team in the league at finishing once they get there. The majority of their offense comes in the mid-range, where their 40.4% is 22nd in the league. Keep the Wizards in that area and the Celtics can pull away with their 3-point shooting.

- Jaylen Brown’s minutes: With Tatum missing his first game of the season, Brown gets his chance to be the top option. It’ll be interesting to see how Brown is used by Mazzulla, considering he usually plays most of the first quarter and then sits to start the second while Tatum rolls with the second unit. Will the Celtics still do that and just let Brogdon carry the bench on his own, or will Brown get the Tatum substitution pattern?  

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.