The 143-110 win in South Beach saw seven players score in double figures for Boston and was elevated by the team shooting 22-40 from deep. The Celtics bench contributed 48 points and Boston held a 13-point lead after the first quarter, never looking back.
In the last seven days, the Celtics went 3-1. It was a stretch that started off at the opposite end of the victory meter, falling to the Denver Nuggets 102-100. This game had victory written all over it at various points but the resulting loss was a true "live by the three, die by the three" example. Boston was 14-44 from deep, and too often seemed to rely on the three-pointer when a simple drive would have done. This season's Celtics, however, have overcome bad shooting performances more often than not.
Boston, with the successful week, improved to a league-best 35-10 and is breezing towards February with a seven-game homestand on the horizon. The Celtics look to grow their lead in the best record department, which currently stands at three over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Things are staying stellar in the Eastern Conference, too, where the Celtics own a 3.5 game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks, who made a surprise coaching change. And Boston remains five games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, where Joel Embiid delivered the best single game performance of the 2023-24 season earlier this week.
Boston Celtics: Next 7 days
The first four games of the homestand take place in the next seven days, with the Celtics facing four teams currently .500 or better. First on the agenda is on 1/27, where Boston welcomes to town the Los Angeles Clippers.
The teams met once this season, two days before Christmas in a 145-108 victory by Boston. Six scored in double figures for the Celtics, with the team shooting 47.2 percent on three-point attempts. Jayson Tatum scored 30, Jaylen Brown 24, and Neemias Queta had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Next up, the New Orleans Pelicans visit the TD Garden on 1/29 in what will be the first meeting between the teams in '23-24.
An important Eastern Conference game takes places on 1/30 with the Indiana Pacers in town. Each team has two wins in the series this season, alternating with the most recent a 133-131 Indiana victory. Tatum, who was the leading scorer in three games against the Pacers this season, missed the fourth game. Brown put up 40 in that close loss.
Closing out the next seven days will be a game on 2/1 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston defeated Los Angeles on Christmas Day, winning by 11. Kristaps Porziņģis had 28 points and 11 rebounds and Tatum had a near triple-double with 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. The two of them helped offset a monster game from Anthony Davis, who scored 40 and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Porziņģis and Tatum were also among the standouts in Boston's most recent stretch of games.
Star power for C's
Porziņģis was in the mood for love in the first quarter against the Nuggets last week, scoring 15 of Boston's first 20 points. Sadly, he cooled off, finishing with 21 and the Celtics lost their first home game this season.
In a victory over the Houston Rockets, Porziņģis was back at it, finishing off a well-rounded game with 32 points (making six 3-pointers) and five blocked shots.
Brown, too, showed up against the Rockets in a wide variety of ways. Though only 6-14 from the field, Brown recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. This game proved yet again Brown continues to improve in all aspects.
It was the dynamic duo show in the victory over Dallas. Brown had 34 points while Tatum, recently named as an All-Star Game starter, finished with a doozy of a line. Tatum had 39 points and 11 rebounds, contributing five assists. He also was outstanding on defense with three steals and two blocked shots.
Derrick White continued to make a case for an All-Star selection, starting the week off with 24 points and five assists against the Nuggets. And versus the Rockets, White had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite a struggle against Dallas (2-12, six points), White has had a steady last five games, averaging 17.6 points. He also has six blocked shots and four steals.
This is just a taste of those contributing to the Celtics success. Jrue Holiday is certainly a main factor, and the bench has performed well, especially those who are rotated into the starting lineup. Boston was seconds away from completing the last seven days with a 4-0 mark. With any luck, they have taken the loss to Denver to heart, and will only use that to fuel them towards a successful future.
photo credit: Flickr
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