Ish Smith scored a game high 27 points with 14 the fourth quarter Monday night, as the Washington Wizards defeated the Boston Celtics 99-94 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
Boston (25-9) never led in the game as Washington built the lead to nine late in the first when Smith knocked down a three-pointer. The Wizards led by as many as 11 in the second before the Celtics twice got within four, but the hosts built the lead back to that 11 point advantage at 51-40 into halftime. Washington (12-24) still continued to hold anywhere from a seven to 11 point lead for most of the third quarter. Boston used a 7-2 run in the last 1:35 on a Grant Williams three point play, and layups by Tremont Waters and Enes Kanter to cut it to 74-72 headed to the fourth quarter. The Celtics tied it when Jaylen Brown knocked down a three-pointer with 8:01 to play, but then Smith took over. Smith scored the next eight points in a row to restore the Wizards lead. Jayson Tatum ran the floor for a dunk to cut it to four with two minutes left, but Anzejs Pasecniks and Troy Brown Jr. both knocked down two from the line in the final 43 seconds to ice the win and break the Celtics three game win streak.
Brown was the high man for Boston in the loss with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Tatum had 17. Marcus Smart added 13 points, and Gordon Hayward had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Smith shot 12-18 off the Washington bench in the win, also adding four rebounds and four assists. Jordan McRae had 19 points and seven rebounds. Old friend Isiaiah Thomas had 17 points and three assists. Brown Jr. had 15 points and nine rebounds. Isaac Bonga also got into double digits with 10 points and seven rebounds. Boston is back at home on Wednesday night to host the San Antonio Spurs at 7 p.m.
