Kyrie Irving had a game high 38 points, including 12 of Bostons 17 points in overtime Wednesday night, to lead the Celtics to their seventh straight win 130-125 at Capital One Arena over the Washington Wizards.
Irving, who had a chance to win the game with a final shot in regulation, drained two huge three pointers in overtime for Boston (17-10) who was still playing without Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford. The Celtics trailed by nine at halftime and by 11 early in the third quarter, before outscoring Washington 38-22 in that third quarter to take a seven point lead. Boston held a three point lead and decided to foul with 13 seconds remaining to avoid the Wizards from tying it with a three pointer. Bradley Beal hit the first free throw and missed the second, but got his own rebound and layed it in to tie it 113-113. Irving had the last shot but couldn’t get it to go sending it to the extra session, where he took over. Washington (11-17) tied it at 125, before Kyrie hit a long three pointer with 17 seconds left. The Wizards had three point looks to tie it in final seconds by Beal and John Wall, but couldn’t get it to go and Irving hit two free throws on the other end to ice it.
Irving added three rebounds and seven assists in the win. Marcus Morris had 27 points and nine rebounds. Marcus Smart added 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals, and Terry Rozier also chipped in 10 points. Wall had 34 points in the Washington loss, adding six rebounds, 13 assists, and two steals. Former Celtic Jeff Green had 22 points, as did Beal. Kelly Oubre Jr also added 20. The Wizards made 21-29 from the foul line on the night, while the Celtics were a perfect 25-25.
Boston will look for their eighth straight win when they welcome in the Atlanta Hawks to TD Garden on Friday night at 7 pm.
