Wizards handle Celtics
Seven-game win streak is halted
WASHINGTON - The Wizards seem to be the only NBA team that has the Celtics' number this season.
The Celtics ended a seven-game winning streak with a 109-95 loss to Washington last night at a sold-out Verizon Center. Boston (62-16) lost the season series, 3-1, to Washington (41-37). The Wizards' three wins over Boston were by an average of 13 points.
"They've played great against us, there has been no doubt about it," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Obviously, if we face them in the playoffs, they should have great confidence. If that's the way it shakes out, we'd love to see each other. That means we're both still alive. But I don't think either team will complain about that."
Paul Pierce had 28 points and nailed six 3-pointers in 37 minutes. Kevin Garnett had 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists in 31 minutes to earn his 29th double-double of the season. Boston also ended a three-game road winning streak and is now 4-3 in the second game of back-to-back games on the road. The Celtics were playing a night after winning in overtime at Milwaukee, although all their starters played fewer than 25 minutes.
The Wizards shot 51.3 percent and easily surpassed 100 points against the NBA's top defensive team. Antawn Jamison had a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Gilbert Arenas added 13 points and four steals off the bench. The Wizards also scored 52 points in the paint and caused 20 turnovers.
"We played well for 48 minutes," said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. "We withstood a couple of their runs and we were able to stage a few runs of our own. It was one of those proud, manly games. You have to get through it and prove it to yourself that you can compete on a level like the Boston Celtics."
It's possible that the top-seeded Celtics could face the Wizards in the second round of the playoffs. And if that happens, will the season series matter?
"If we beat them three times, it wouldn't mean anything," said Ray Allen, who had 13 points in 37 minutes. "Once the playoff starts . . ."
Said Jamison: "It says a lot to beat the team, three games to one, throughout the regular season. If a matchup was to occur in the playoffs, it gives us confidence to know that we can match up with them. We're taking their best shot and things are going to intensify once the playoffs get started. I think it's good for us to know that we have the confidence to beat Boston three times."
Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, who had 4 points and seven assists in 25 minutes, went to the locker room before the start of the fourth quarter because of an upset stomach. Rondo believes he contracted food poisoning from eating a hamburger at the team hotel early yesterday morning. Rivers said Rondo should not have played. Glen Davis left the game in the second quarter with a strained right hamstring, but Rivers said the rookie forward would be fine.
"I'm just weak, nauseous," Rondo said. "Actually, right before the game I started feeling weak. My stomach has been bothering me."
Despite an 18-11 start by the Celtics, the Wizards finished the first quarter with a 30-25 lead. Pierce made his first five shots and had 14 points, including four 3-pointers, in the quarter. Garnett's tip-in just before the halftime buzzer sliced Washington's lead to 55-53.
Pierce scored 18 points in the first half, while Garnett had 15 points and nine rebounds. Jamison had 16 points at the half for Washington, which shot 52.6 percent. Boston shot 48.8 percent for the half and nailed 7 of 16 3-pointers, but allowed 17 points off turnovers.
"We did exactly what we wanted to do," said Wizards guard Antonio Daniels. "We wanted to get out of the gate and bring some energy to the game, get the crowd involved, and then go from there."
The Wizards took an 82-67 lead on a Daniels runner with 1:54 left in the third. Washington finished the quarter with an 82-71 lead after outscoring Boston, 27-18, receiving 8 points from center Brendan Haywood.
"We couldn't get any defensive consistency," Pierce said. "They shot the ball real well. We turned the ball over more than I'd like and it cost us the win tonight."
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Eddie House and Pierce trimmed Boston's deficit to 91-85 with 7:42 left in the game. Garnett's jumper with 5:33 remaining sliced the Celtics' deficit to 96-90. Pierce's sixth 3-pointer brought Boston within 101-95 with 2:27 left. But DeShawn Stevenson's 3-pointer with 1:29 left gave the Wizards a 107-95 lead and sealed the game.
"[The Wizards] have a lot of confidence against us," Garnett said. "They have a lot of firepower on their team. Obviously, they are a team that has been together for a while. What stands out is their swagger. They have a lot of swagger about them. They back it up. They play well against us."
Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com
