Wizards-Celtics Rivalry Renewed for the Playoffs

The Wizards are 5-0 at home in these playoffs, and perhaps returning to Washington for Game 6 will cure them.

Boston Celtics fans expressed their disdain for the Washington Wizards’ Kelly Oubre Jr. on Wednesday night, and the vulgarity of one of their chants surprised John Wall.

A loss would send the series back to Boston for a Game 7 on Monday, where the victor goes on to play LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Big runs have been the story of the series (aside from that home court thing) and for the first time in Game 5, the Celtics were the ones putting the points on the board.

INJURY UPDATE: Celtics G Avery Bradley, who’s been dealing with hip issues during the series, sure seemed OK while scoring 29 points in Game 5, including 25 in the first half on 10-of-13 shooting.

Al Horford, another best player of Boston, finished the game with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Their first quarter burst came after the Wizards scored the first four points of the game.

Bradley poured in a game-high 29 points, shooting 12-for-19 from the floor and 4-for-7 from three.

But while we wait, would it be OK to throw some love Al’s way by pointing out that he was absolutely, positively in a class by himself in the Celtics’ 123-101 Game 5 dismantling of the Washington Wizards last night at the Garden?

“There were a few guys that walked up to me and said ‘I think Jimmy had said last game that we can’t let guys like Avery Bradley score 20, ‘” Bradley recalled. We booed him. It’s just part of the game.

That’s not to say Isaiah doesn’t have another dominating night in him, but if Wednesday showed the Celtics anything, it was that they can win without Thomas owning the scoreboard. But all you can do is go out there and play basketball.

“They’re going to do what they’re going to do”, said Wizards point guard John Wall, per Duffy.

The Wizards put so much attention on Thomas Wednesday night that he often had an open man to turn to.

Bill Belichick is elusive when it comes to the media, but it’s not out of the ordinary to see him and other members of the New England Patriots at Celtics games.

Washington made its first two shots, then blew its next eight attempts.

Wizards are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

Wall has produced an effective field goal percentage of 73.6 percent during the regular season and playoffs combined immediately after he was credited with a steal, and his play off live-ball turnovers were instrumental in the Wizards’ Game 4 win Sunday.

“Everyone knows that once you make some easy shots, the next shots become easier”. Isaiah Thomas only had 18 tonight, but he set the tone in the first quarter, dishing out five assists and driving straight into the teeth of the Washington defense.

I’m not exactly sure when and why the “two-way player” became distinguishable from every other National Basketball Association player, since everyone plays both ways. Nothing would suit them better than to watch the Celts and Wiz go seven.

“I wish I knew”, was the shooting guard’s reply. You’ve just got to try to contain him and make it tough on him. We told him what we was gonna expect from the crowd; we didn’t think those type of words.