The Boston Celtics can further solidify their No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference while also burying the Wizards’ fading postseason hopes on March 28 when the two teams tussle in the nation’s capital.
Boston is riding high on a three-game win streak that most recently saw the Cs dismantle the Spurs by 44 points on their TD Garden home parquet, while the Wizards come into this one having lost five of their last six games.
With Washington missing its two of its top three scorers, the Celtics have a prime chance to move within 1.5 games out of the No. 1 seed in the east with 12 days left in the 2022-23 NBA season before the beginning of the postseason. Can Boston take advantage of this opportunity?
Washington Wizards: 18th (ORtg), 21st (DRtg), 23rd (Pace), 23rd (NRtg)
Boston Celtics: 3rd (ORtg), 4th (DRtg), 17th (Pace), 1st (NRtg)
Boston Celtics Projected Starting Lineup
PG – Marcus Smart, SG – Derrick White, SF – Jaylen Brown, PF – Jayson Tatum, C – Al Horford
Washington Wizards Projected Starting Lineup
PG – Delon Wright, SG – Corey Kispert, SF – Deni Avdija, PF – Kristaps Porzingis, C – Daniel Gafford
Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Injury Report
Celtics PG Payton Pritchard (heel) – Probable
Wizards C Daniel Gafford (left foot soreness) – Questionable
Wizards PG Monte Morris (groin) – Questionable
Wizards SG Bradley Beal (knee) – Out
Wizards SF Kyle Kuzma (ankle) – Out
Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Prediction
With Bradley Beal’s recent controversial arrest and many Wizards pundits calling for the team to embrace the tank, and Washington being in a free-fall as the Celtics could be returning to full strength for the first time since the beginning of March, Boston could be in a good position to cover a sizable spread on the road.
Lay that chalk Celtics fans.
Celtics 131 Wizards 114