Neemias Queta (left) was 10 for 12 from the field in the first half, despite the efforts of the Wizards' Alex Sarr.
Neemias Queta (left) was 10 for 12 from the field in the first half, despite the efforts of the Wizards' Alex Sarr.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Last Tuesday, the Wizards made history for the wrong reasons by surrendering 83 points to Heat center Bam Adebayo in a 21-point loss. Adebayo is not known as an offensive dynamo, but he is a three-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist.
Celtics center Neemias Queta has not collected any significant accolades, so his powerful start against Washington on Saturday was almost as surprising as Adebayo’s eruption four days earlier.
Queta, who entered the night averaging 9.8 points per game, more than doubled that in the first half, scoring 22 points to stake the Celtics to an early lead in their 111-100 win.
Queta finished with 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, along with 10 rebounds. Jayson Tatum made 8 of 19 shots and had 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Tatum played the entire third quarter, leaving him at 27 minutes, 34 seconds for the game. That was his minutes limit over his first three games, so it was notable that he returned midway through the fourth and finished with 32:12, an indication that the Celtics are ready to start building up his opportunities.
The Celtics made just 12 of 46 3-pointers (26.1 percent) but it did not matter. It was their first game since returning from their most challenging three-game road trip of this season. They ended that jaunt with consecutive losses, giving them a rare losing streak, but the Wizards have spent years being an elixir for opponents, and nothing changed in this game.
Queta scored the Celtics’ first points on a putback and added a floater and consecutive layups during his 4-for-4 start. The Wizards, meanwhile, started firing up awkward jumpers that never had a chance.
The Celtics’ shooting was not crisp, either, but their offensive rebounding remained a significant asset. Seven of their first 15 points came on second chances, including a 3-pointer by Derrick White that made it 15-8.
Jaylen Brown (right) rips down a rebound in front of the Wizards' Trae Young during the first quarter Saturday.
Jaylen Brown (right) rips down a rebound in front of the Wizards' Trae Young during the first quarter Saturday.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
After a Queta three-point play gave Boston a 20-11 lead, Wizards forward Tristan Vukcevic crafted his team’s only notable run. He hit two 3-pointers to force a Celtics timeout, then returned from the break and hit another. His 9-0 personal burst tied the score at 20. Washington led, 27-26, before losing its grip.
Sam Hauser, who had missed his first three 3-pointers, hit his next try to start the second quarter and put his hands in the air to show his relief. Then he pulled up for another from the right arc to continue the Celtics’ loud 17-2 run.
Otherwise, most of Boston’s onslaught transpired closer to the rim. The Celtics were just 6 for 22 from the arc in the opening half.
Queta scored inside before Tatum fed him for a dunk on a pick-and-roll. The Celtics closed the half on a 37-14 run and took a 64-41 lead to halftime.
Tatum missed his first five shots and was held scoreless for the game’s first 21 minutes before closing the half with 7 quick points. He carried that momentum into the third quarter by burying Washington’s lethargic defense with strong drives to the basket, where his layups helped the Celtics push their lead to 83-53.
The Celtics scored just 7 points over the first six minutes of the fourth, and a Vukcevic 3-pointer with 4:21 left pulled the Wizards within 104-92. But Washington is more focused on its lottery odds than stacking wins, and it kept just one of its top seven available rotation players on the floor down the stretch.
Will Cooper Flagg be a Celtic in the future?
The No. 1 draft pick and Maine’s own Cooper Flagg returned to New England on Friday when the Celtics played the Mavericks.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.