Inside The Celtics

Sam Hauser's Career-Night Propels Celtics to St. Patrick's Day Win in Nation's Capital

Before a left ankle sprain ended his evening, Sam Hauser generated a career-high 30 points, drilling 10/13 threes, in Boston's 130-104 win vs. the Wizards.

Bobby Krivitsky

Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
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With Jaylen Brown out due to a right ankle sprain, Derrick White inactive because of a left-hand sprain, and a right hamstring strain sidelining Kristaps Porzingis for the fifth straight game, Al Horford, Sam Hauser, and Oshae Brissett slid into the starting lineup for the Celtics on Sunday.

As fans of the road team making this St. Patrick's Day matchup feel like it took place at TD Garden, Boston asserted itself early, staging a 13-2 run.

With Jayson Tatum bullying his way to the rim and the visitors pairing an up-tempo pace with excellent ball movement, their dominant display avalanched into a 24-6 stretch that extended their advantage to 41-23.

Tatum capped the first frame with a buzzer-beating three, giving the Celtics a 45-27 lead. That's the most points they've scored in the first quarter of a road game since 2018.

The five-time All-Star generated 18 points in the first 12 minutes. Al Horford chipped in nine, and Boston assisted on 10/14 field goals. The C's drilled 9/14 threes. Consistently getting into the teeth of the Wizards' defense led to ten free-throw attempts, eight of which they converted, and it helped put them in advantageous positions to tack on seven second-chance points.

The story of the second frame was Hauser exemplifying the visitors' scorching hot performance from beyond the arc in the first half.

The third-year forward entered intermission with 18 points on 6/7 shooting from three-point range. He also grabbed four rebounds, swiped a steal, and provided effective individual and team defense.

The Celtics made 17/28 triples, setting a new franchise record for any half. That helped them grow the lead as large as 33 points before taking an 81-53 edge into the break.

It's the third time since Jan. 30 they've scored at least 80 points in the first 24 minutes. According to NBC Sports Boston's Dick Lipe, they didn't have any from 1991-2023.

Tatum registered 25 points by halftime, leading all scorers through the first two periods. The visitors got 14 from Horford. 

The reset between the second and third periods couldn't cool off Hauser. He buried his first three tries from behind the arc in the third frame, reaching 30 points for the night before the nine-minute mark in the quarter.

Credit the Wisconsin native: despite being on fire, he didn't force the issue, even when Boston ran plays designed for him. When it wasn't there, he kept the ball moving. When it was, a make felt automatic.

Faring 10/13 from three-point range, he became the sixth player this season to make ten triples in a game, joining Keegan Murray, Stephen Curry, Trey Murphy, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Unfortunately, Hauser stepped on someone's foot on the Wizards' bench, abruptly ending his evening. He received a massive ovation from the crowd at Capital One Arena, saluting them as he walked down the tunnel.

While his injury, a left ankle sprain, put a damper on Sunday's tilt, the lead continued hovering around 30 after he exited the contest. Svi Mykhailiuk drilled the visitors' second buzzer-beating three of the night, giving the C's a 108-78 advantage entering the final frame.

The sizable gap allowed the second unit and extended rotation to apply the finishing touches on the Celtics' 130-104 Saint Patrick's Day victory while keeping the starters' minutes down.

Tatum finished with 27 points, six assists, four rebounds, a steal, and a block in 23 minutes.

Horford contributed 14 points and grabbed four boards while logging 21. Jrue Holiday finished with seven points, three assists, and a block in 19 minutes of floor time.

They also got a pair of standout performances off the bench. Pritchard produced 14 points and a game-high 13 assists, pushing the pace and demonstrating his growth orchestrating the pick-and-roll. He also secured five rebounds, including two on the offensive glass.

Luke Kornet matched Pritchard's 14 points, snagged six rebounds, three at each end, and blocked two shots, capturing his impact at the rim on both sides of the floor.

Boston buried 24/50 threes in the win. The visitors also parlayed 12 offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points, scored 22 off of 16 Washington giveaways, and generated 18 on the fast break.

Now, the Celtics return to TD Garden, where they'll host the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. That matchup will tip off at 7:30 EST.

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'

Jayson Tatum Plays Entire Second Half vs. Suns: 'Don't Really Say That Many Times'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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