AP

Brown scores 36, Tatum-less Celtics outlast Wizards 130-121

Nov 27, 2022, 3:31 AM | Updated: 6:46 pm

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (9) dur...

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)


              Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots against Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) shoots over Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) drives against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards defenders Monte Morris (22), Corey Kispert, Kristaps Porzingis (6) and Deni Avdija (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Washington Wizards forward Taj Gibson (67) grabs a loose ball next to Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum watches from the bench during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) drives past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White on a screen by Wizards' Deni Avdija, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives against Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

BOSTON (AP) — Marcus Smart laughs when he thinks about how far Jaylen Brown has come since he was a rookie.

There were moments during that 2016 season when he remembers a 19-year-old Brown at times recklessly driving 1-on-5 and throwing up wild shots at the rim.

“His excuse was: ‘When everybody is telling me to slow down, the defense hears that, so I’m going to speed up.’ We’d be like, ‘No, that doesn’t make any sense,'” Smart recalled. “He’s using more of his grace now, to where he’s understanding that sometimes just be patient and let the game come to you instead of going and get it yourself.”

On a night the Celtics were missing their top scorer, Brown showed off his growth, leading the Celtics with a season-high 36 points to help Boston hold off the Washington Wizards 130-121 on Sunday.

Malcolm Brogdon added 17 points and Derrick White finished with 15 for the Celtics, who have won three straight and 12 of their last 13. It is also Boston’s second win this season over Washington, which has lost its last three.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum missed his first game this season with a sprained left ankle. But his absence didn’t slow down Brown or the offense, as Boston jumped out to 17-point halftime edge and grew its lead as high as 26 in the third quarter.

“I enjoyed just playing basketball, Brown said. “It’s what the season is about. There’s going to be guys in, guys out. We’ve got to be able to maintain our level of play when our big dog is not in the rotation. It was fun. It challenges everybody to step up in their roles.”

He said he likes the progress the team has made a quarter into the schedule and with a league-best 16-4 record.

“I think we’re in a good spot and I think we still haven’t played out best ball yet,” Brown said.

The Wizards cut it to 119-107 in the fourth, prompting Boston interim coach Joe Mazzulla to reinsert his starting lineup to help close out the game.

Mazzulla said he wasn’t worried about his team responding without its top scorer on the floor.

“Our depth — no matter who’s out, our guys are ready to play and step up,” he said.

The NBA’s top-rated offense, Boston shot 55% from the field, 16 of 34 from the 3-point line and went 26 of 26 from the free throw line.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 30 points. Kristaps Porzingis added 21.

The Wizards were also short-handed, with forward Kyle Kuzma out with lower back pain.

They got back guard Monte Morris from a three-game absence because of a sore right ankle, but never found an offensive rhythm or got support from their bench, which was outscored by their Boston counterparts 46-36.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that can do a lot of things on the bench that would probably start on other teams,” White said. “Just having that depth that can step in when we need them and make plays and do the right things out there is huge for us.”

TIP-INS

Wizards: Held a 58-52 advantage in the paint. … Had one turnover in the first half and four for the game.

Celtics: Improved to 9-1 at home. … Brown has scored 25 or more points in five straight games. … Seven players finished in double figures. Held a 38-29 rebounding advantage. … Eight players made a 3-pointer. … Former Boston Bruins star Zdeno Chara sat courtside.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Host Minnesota on Monday.

Celtics: Host Charlotte on Monday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Brown scores 36, Tatum-less Celtics outlast Wizards 130-121