The message from Brad Stevens’ public tongue-lashing didn’t really sink in until the Celtics were pushed to the brink by the worst franchise in the NBA a couple nights ago.
Maybe that helped drive the point home a little harder, as the Celtics turned in their best wire-to-wire effort in quite some time with a 111-78 victory over the Washington Wizards last night at the Garden.
Jared Sullinger had a double-double in the first half and finished with 18 points and 15 boards. Isaiah Thomas added 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting, and Avery Bradley scored 16 points as the C’s starting guards completely outplayed the star-studded Wizards backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal.