The Celtics defeated the Grizzlies 102-100, but it came down to a Kristaps Porzingis block at the buzzer that extended the NBA’s longest current win streak to six games.
Eight players, including several starters, were sidelined for the Memphis Grizzlies going into their game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night. Marcus Smart was among them; he sustained a left foot injury that will keep him out of commission for three to five weeks.
Still, the hosts gave their visitors everything they could handle, with Desmond Bane scoring a game-high 30 points and Santi Aldama adding 28 points.
Boston’s subpar defensive performance is reflected in it. The Celtics may not have approached their opponent with the same zeal and focus that they will probably bring to their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
They were also more negatively impacted than Memphis by the referees’ excessive involvement in the game and their frequent whistle blowing. However, they will have to battle through games like that.
And they most likely won’t be playing against a team that, like the Grizzlies while Ja Morant was serving a 25-game suspension, was reduced to eight players, including its best player. The visitors had difficulty scoring in the half-court because of the hosts’ physical defence and lack of fluidity. Boston scored thirty points in one frame then was held to twenty-three in the next two.
But to start the season, the Celtics have outperformed everyone in the NBA in clutch circumstances, which are games decided by five points in the last five minutes. They are currently 5-2 in these situations.
And in the last 1:01 of Sunday’s game, cutting Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum (who finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) found him for a slam that put the C’s ahead 102-100.
The game’s MVP, the seven-foot-three centre, then put the finishing touches on the victory by blocking Ziaire Williams’s effort to tie it with a buzzer-beating baseline jumper.
In a triumph that extends the Association’s longest win streak to six games, Porzingis scored a team-high 26 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and blocked six shots.
#1.
Jaylen Brown, who was initially doubtful for Sunday’s play due to a right adductor strain, began the contest with a two-handed flush, courtesy of no resistance from John Konchar, after falling on the in-season tournament court in Toronto on Friday, a surface that garnered concerns from both teams.That put the visitors, who soon had an 8-2 lead, ahead.
#2.
In the opening frame, Kristaps Porzingis scored 12 of the Celtics’ 26 points, setting the team’s pace. Using his size advantage, everything happened within the paint. In comparison to the Grizzlies’ eight scores, Boston scored 18 points thanks to that.
In addition to swatting three shots, the seven-foot-three centre achieved a combination that is unprecedented in his history as an All-Star.
#3.
But with Memphis deviating from its usual strategy of putting the paint protection first and limiting the visitors’ effect from beyond the arc, coupled with 13 points from Desmond Bane, the hosts went into the second quarter leading 27–26.
#4.
The match on Sunday began 4/4 with a field goal by Sam Hauser. He’s turning into an increasingly valuable rotation player thanks to his ability to defend and rediscover his shooting rhythm.
#5.
By the end of the second quarter, the C’s had taken a 50-40 lead thanks to a 16-5 run put together by Hauser off the bench and improved defensive play by Boston. For a significant portion of the first half, though, the Celtics’ defensive intensity was lacking,
which gave the Grizzlies late rotations and open jumpers. With 18 points at halftime, Bane had buried 4/7 threes and led all players in scoring. In order to score seventeen, Santi Aldama made three of eight long-range shots.
Additionally, the visitors went from being ahead by double digits to just holding onto a three-point lead at the half due to their poor shooting performance from outside the arc, 4/14 (28.6%). With the exception of Hauser, the team as a whole shot 0/9 from three. With 12 points in the first 24 minutes, Porzingis lead Boston. The only other starter on the team to score in double figures was Jayson Tatum, who finished with twelve.
#6.
As this author’s game narrative from the Celtics’ 108-105 victory against the Raptors attests, Brown and Porzingis are developing a remarkable rapport very rapidly.The Sunday play below demonstrates how well the former opens on backdoor cuts. It also demonstrates how accurate the latter is as a passer.
This pick-and-roll that turns into an alley-oop demonstrates how the camaraderie between Brown and this team is also helping him develop as a facilitator.
#7.
Derrick White stopped Bane on Memphis’ opening possession as Boston, which is notorious for letting loose in the second half, stepped up its defensive game.Along with Porzingis’ alley-oop, Tatum also turned down a screen from the seven-foot-three centre. He then drove hard to the hoop and elevated for a one-handed flush, which put Bismack Biyombo on the defensive end of the court.
#8.
Joe Mazzulla introduced Neemias Queta into the game after Porzingis committed his fourth foul on a night when the referees were fast to call a foul. Following his recovery from discomfort in his right foot, the 24-year-old made his Celtics debut during the season.
He was used alongside Al Horford by Boston’s bench boss, with the latter covering Aldama and playing the four.
To be honest, Queta seems sluggish, which could indicate that his foot is still recovering. Perhaps it was also because the game was picking up speed for him after a long break.
#9.
The visitors were more negatively impacted than the hosts by the officials’ constant blowing of the whistle, which included issuing Brown a technical after he objected to the lack of a foul call after he was struck during a basket attempt.
Not helping either were five turnovers. And the C’s lack of focus and energy on defence when playing an opponent who is without eight players. Nor were they sharp offensively. They were still able to tie the third quarter 23–23, though, and went into the fourth quarter leading 79–76.
#10.
For the last twelve minutes, it was a slugfest. However, with 1:01 remaining and the score tied at 100, Tatum started working in the mid-post before finding a cutting Porzingis for a slam to end the tie.
And on a crazy last play, following an unsuccessful three-pointer by Aldama, the same player who ultimately won the game blocked Ziaire Williams’ baseline effort to tie the score at the buzzer and force overtime. Porzingis had blocked six shots that evening.
#11.
With their 102-100 victory, the Celtics have now won six straight games, which is the NBA record. They also have the best record in the league, 11-2.
They will next play the Hornets on Monday night at Charlotte. The game will begin at 7:00 EST.
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