Celtics guard Derrick White led the way with 30 points in a 146-101 rout of the Wizards on Thursday night in Washington, D.C.
Celtics guard Derrick White led the way with 30 points in a 146-101 rout of the Wizards on Thursday night in Washington, D.C.John McDonnell/Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The pit stop in Washington turned out perfectly for the Celtics: Jaylen Brown got a much-needed night off back in Boston, his teammates boosted their offensive numbers against a porous defense and seldom-used reserves played extensive minutes.
What appeared to be a tricky game for a streaking Celtics team turned into a flawless night as Derrick White’s near triple-double and Jordan Walsh’s career game helped Boston coast to a 146-101 win at Capital One Arena.
The Celtics used a 43-point third quarter to turn a 7-point lead into a rout as the Wizards appeared to lose interest. White finished with a season-high 30 points on 12-for-21 shooting, including 5 of 12 from 3-point range, to go along with 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Walsh added a career-high 22 points, 15 in the first half, on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting in addition to 7 rebounds and 3 assists..
Boston set a season-high in points and led by as many as 42 as they allowed Brown, who played in the team’s first 21 games, to rest in preparation for Friday night’s showdown with the Lakers at TD Garden.
With eight wins in the past 10 games, the Celtics are a season-high four games above .500 as they navigate through a difficult stretch against several Eastern Conference contenders. But the Wizards are hardly contenders. What’s more, they are in full tank mode, having won just three times in 21 games.
The Wizards provided some resistance early, but the Celtics were relentless and used a 22-3 run between the third and fourth quarters to pull away.
The Celtics had no trouble scoring all night, and took full control of the hapless Wizards by making 14 of 21 shots in the third period, scoring 43 points for a 109-86 lead.
Walsh capped the run with two thundering dunks while White flirted with a triple double, nailing five 3-pointers in the first three periods.
Neemias Queta controlled the paint, winning his matchup with former lottery pick Marvin Bagley III. He blocked four shots and was able to score with ease at the rim, finishing with 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. The rout provided an opportunity for Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to clear his bench and play the three two-way players who made the trip to D.C.
With Brown back in Boston nursing an non-COVID illness, his teammates were presented with more scoring opportunities and Walsh, the third-year forward, playing the best of his career, took full advantage. He scored a career-high 15 points in the opening half as the Celtics led by as many as 17 points, 54-37.
The game appeared to be in hand early against a tanking Wizards team but, behind familiar names such as Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum, Washington responded with a 22-9 run before White ended the half with a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left.
White, beginning to snap out of his early-season slump, led the Celtics’ with 18 first-half points while Payton Pritchard added 13.of his 20 points. The Celtics shot 50 percent and made 11 of 29 3-pointers in the first half, so offense wasn’t an issue.
As had been its pattern, the Celtics fouled way too often, sending the Wizards, who ranked 27th in the NBA in free throw attempts, to the line 12 times in the first half. Middleton, who flourished against the Celtics in his days with the Bucks, had 16 points for the Wizards while McCollum led the Wizards with 22 points.
The Wizards, who have enough salary cap space this summer for two maximum contracts, are in a complete rebuild mode but several of their younger prospects were injured, forcing head coach Brian Keefe, a Winchester native, to play his veterans extensive minutes.
Washington has long been a road destination for Celtics’ fans and Thursday was no different. There was a horde of Celtics fans at Capital One Arena sitting over the visitors’ tunnel. They cheered loudly when Jayson Tatum walked out in street clothes to take his seat on the bench early in the first quarter. Tatum spent the day visiting the Ravens at their practice facility in Owing Mills, Md.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.