The Wizards may have started slow, but they finished strong … Using a 26-0 run in the third quarter to help them cruise to victory in Game 4. The Wizards forced one turnover after another and made baskets every time down the floor to take a lead over the Celtics. It was clear they weren’t going to be satisfied with a close victory, they wanted to blow them out.
The Wizards did just that in a 121-102 rout in Game 4 on Sunday night, thanks to a 26-0 third-quarter run that featured big-time contributions from their stars — Wall, Beal, Morris, and Porter.
For the Celtics, Isaiah Thomas started off hot in Game 4, but the Wizards’ defense shut down the Celtics star after a strong start in the first quarter.Thomas going after he opened with five consecutive 3-pointers and 17 points in the first 15 minutes, but he only finished with 19.
After Sunday’s loss Thomas complained that a lack of calls by the refs frustrated him. Thomas was mad that referees allowed the Wizards to get away with holding and grabbing him but acknowledged the 26-0 run — not the officiating — ultimately decided the game.
That six-minute stretch busted the game open and Washington tied the second-round series at two games apiece. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Boston. Wizards power forward Markief Morris had this to say about the team’s run in the third quarter, “we’re capable of those type of runs every game. Keep pressing them, go up 50 if we can. That’s the mindset I felt like all of us had.” Morris finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Washington never led by 50, but it was 74-53 by the time Porter made a layup with 5 minutes left in the quarter. During the run, the Celtics committed eight turnovers — including back-to-back shot-clock violations — and went 0 for 5.
From coach Brad Stevens’ perspective it wasn’t pretty. The coach had this to say after his team’s ugly loss, “If you turn the ball over against these guys, you’d prefer to drop kick it into the stands so that at least you can set your defense.”
The Wizards improved to 5-0 at home in the playoffs. With the series tied 2-2, the teams head back to Boston for a pivotal Game 5. They will return to Washington for Game 6 with one of the two teams facing elimination.