Washington got the upset win on Valentine’s Day, beating the Celtics by a score of 104-91. Let’s take a look at some observations and notes from the contest:
Moe Wagner brings the right combination of energy, communication, and floor spacing. Scott Brooks threw out a funky lineup on Sunday, starting Russell Westbrook–Bradley Beal, Garrison Mathews, Rui Hachimura, and Moe Wagner. The lineup screamed, “let’s just outscore them.”
What actually happened was a bit shocking. The team played well on defense.
“There’s never been a question of whether we are capable or not… it’s a matter of trusting ourselves,” Wagner told FortyEight Minutes and other reporters.
Brooks pointed to Wagner’s communication as a major reason for success.
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- Is Jayson Tatum alright? Tatum had a horrible game, scoring just six points on Sunday. He hadn’t scored in single digits all season. Beal, who’s good friends with Tatum, joked that the Celtics forward let the Wizards “off the hook” by not attacking in the same way that he normally does. Beal speculated that Tatum’s foul trouble was something that threw him off.
- No need to worry about Rui Hachimura. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter (22 minutes total in the game). With the Wizards up on the scoreboard, Brooks opted to give the forward some rest.
- Will we see Russell Westbrook vs. John Wall Part II? Westbrook has a chance to play in the game against the Rockets on Monday (second of the back-to-back). Brooks says it’ll be up to how Westbrook feels on Monday in conjunction with the medical team.
