Jaylen Brown’s Dominance Leads Boston Celtics to Hard-Fought NBA Cup Win Over Wizards
NBA Cup Highlights: Jaylen Brown’s 31 Points Overpower Wizards The Emirates NBA Cup action continued Friday night as the Boston Celtics faced the Washington Wizards in their third group play game. Coming off a victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics were expected to cruise past the rebuilding Wizards. However, the game proved more challenging than anticipated.
The Celtics struggled to find their rhythm early, falling behind before an 8-0 run sparked by Sam Hauser’s two three-pointers. Despite their reputation for strong perimeter shooting, Boston managed just four made threes in the quarter, forcing adjustments as the Wizards kept the game competitive.
Second Quarter: Jaylen Brown Steps Up
Boston’s offense sputtered in the second quarter, scoring only 20 points. Jaylen Brown carried the team during this stretch, accounting for 10 of those points while the rest of the roster battled inefficiency and turnovers.
Third Quarter: Finding the Groove
After halftime, the Celtics began to show flashes of their dominant form, leaning on their bench to apply defensive pressure and spark a rally. With Sam Hauser contributing energy and key baskets, Boston reclaimed the lead by the end of the quarter, albeit by a slim four-point margin.
Fourth Quarter: Closing the Deal
Despite struggles from beyond the arc—Jayson Tatum went 0-for-10 from three, while Derrick White started 0-for-6—the Celtics found a way to finish strong. Tatum narrowly missed a triple-double with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. The night belonged to Jaylen Brown, whose 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists propelled Boston to a 12-point victory.
The Celtics’ win not only improved their NBA Cup record to 2-1 but also bolstered their point differential, a critical tiebreaker for advancing in the tournament. With this win, Boston remains a strong contender in the inaugural NBA Cup.
Leave a Reply