Image C/O: Jim Davis/The Boston Globe
Whilst closing out their 7 game home stand, the Celtics look strong going into their playoff push. Currently in the 7th seed in the East, the Celtics hold a record of 28 wins and 26 losses with only 18 games to go this year as they look to find their stride.
After a tough loss to the 1st seed Sixers last Tuesday, the Celtics took the court against the New York Knicks, a team that has been far more consistent than anticipated with All-Star PF Julius Randle really stepping up this year. In a tight game, the Celtics edged out the Knicks with a final score of 101-99 with SG Jaylen Brown scoring 32 points on 50% from the field.
Friday night the Minnesota Timberwolves took a trip to the parquet in a bout that went into overtime and ended with a new record being set for the Celtics. A very high scoring affair headed to overtime tied up at 124-124 where All-Star SF Jayson Tatum set a career high in points ending the night with 53 points in great fashion leading the C’s to a 145-136 win over the Timberwolves. On this historic night for Tatum, he passed Larry Bird’s record of being the youngest Celtic to score 50 points in a game. Alongside Tatum, Brown had 26 points and Smart scored an impactful 24 points as well.
In their first game back on the road, the C’s travel to Denver where they face the Nuggets who were on a 8-game win streak since acquiring PF Aaron Gordon from Orlando. After coming out slow, the Celtics turned it around and ended the game on a 40-8 run giving them the lead and essentially sealing the deal in the Mile High City. In great performances all around, the Celtics beat the 4th seed Nuggets with a final score of 105-87. Tatum led the team with 28 points.
The Celtics remain on the road for their next two games. They head to Portland on Tuesday and close out the road trip in LA against the injured Lakers. If they keep this consistency up then Celtics fans might be in store for quite the end of the season.