Celtics run away from Wizards 111-78


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BOSTON (AP) — Two nights after narrowly avoiding an embarrassing loss, the Boston Celtics rolled to an easy win.

Jared Sullinger had 18 points and 15 rebounds in three quarters and Isaiah Thomas scored 21 points, leading the Celtics to a 111-78 rout of the Washington Wizards on Friday.

"From the beginning of the game it was contagious," said Avery Bradley, who scored 16 for Boston. "One person was making the extra pass and then the next guy was and we were getting easy shots."

Jae Crowder had 17 points for the Celtics, who posted a runaway win against the Wizards for the second time in three weeks. Kelly Olynyk scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter as both coaches left the finish to their reserves.

Boston looked nothing like the team that needed to rally from a five-point deficit in the final few minutes for an 84-80 victory over lowly Philadelphia on Wednesday.

"I think pulling out that Sixers game was huge," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "I felt we had a pretty good shootaround and then felt like we played on both ends probably as consistently for 48 minutes as we've played all year."

Jared Dudley scored 19 for Washington, which has lost three in a row. Bradley Beal had 16 points, and John Wall finished with 10 points and six assists.

The Wizards shot 32 percent (27 for 84) from the field and committed 22 turnovers.

"You can't play this game solely based on if you're making or missing shots," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "We have energy to start the game, but when we miss shots we lose that."

The Celtics put together a 12-2 run midway through the opening period, and the Wizards never recovered. Boston led by as much as 17 in the first quarter.

Beal had 11 points in the first period, and then zero in the second. Washington made just six field goals in each of the first two quarters, going 12 for 45 in the half.

"It doesn't matter how good your offense is if you can't stop anybody," Wall said. "I'm giving them all the credit for what they did. We just didn't make shots offensively and we didn't defend and they got whatever they wanted."

Evan Turner added to Washington's woes with a 19-foot jumper right before the buzzer, lifting Boston to a 54-36 halftime lead.

BIG CHEERLEADER

The game was so one-sided Boston fans entertained themselves by doing the wave midway through the fourth quarter, with Sullinger cheering them on from the bench. The big center pulled down 15 rebounds for the third time this season.

"When you are in the right defensive position, it seems the rebounds come easier," Sullinger said.

BELOW AVERAGE

Beal was averaging 20 points and Wall 16.5 entering Friday's game. Both guards finished well below their averages against Boston's consistent defense.

"We just try to eliminate their fast-break points as a team and I feel like we did a great job tonight," Sullinger said. "That's what really got us going tonight."

TIP-INS

Wizards: Wall was the only Washington starter other than Beal to score in the first quarter, finishing the period with all of one point. ... Marcin Gortat led the Wizards with nine rebounds.

Celtics: Sullinger had his fifth double-double of the season. ... Boston also beat Washington 118-98 on Nov. 6 in Boston. ... G Marcus Smart missed his fourth straight game with a lower left leg injury.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Host Toronto on Saturday night.

Celtics: Visit Orlando on Sunday night.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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DOUG ALDEN

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