Beal leads Wizards past struggling Celtics in double overtime / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports Credit Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal scored a game-high 36 points, Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma both recorded double-doubles, and the Washington Wizards (5-1) defeated the Boston Celtics (2-4) in double overtime, 115-112 (25-20, 28-27, 23-26, 27-30, 6-6, 6-3), Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Player of the Game EFF Points Accuracy 0-0 Rebounds Assists

The Wizards are off to their best start since 2005-06.

Washington rallied after enduring a field-goal drought of 6:12 that began at the end of regulation and extended into the first overtime. Boston scored the first six points of the extra frame before the Wizards held the Celtics scoreless for the final 3:28.

Beal and Harrell made a pair of free throws, then Beal ended the dry spell with a layup with 25.9 seconds remaining that forced a second overtime. In double overtime, Beal scored on a fadeaway and layup, then Spencer Dinwiddie hit for two of his 20 points to give Washington a three-point lead.

The Wizards had a chance to salt the game away, but Jayson Tatum forced a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope turnover to give Boston one last gasp.

Caldwell-Pope regrouped when he stripped Jaylen Brown on the final possession.

Harrell scored 20 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Kuzma grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds and scored three of his 17 points on a jumper from the corner with 2:19 left in regulation that broke a 96-96 tie.

Brown was called for a loose-ball foul on the shot, and Beal's subsequent free throw gave the Wizards a four-point play. The Celtics rallied and Brown scored four of his team-high 34 points to help force overtime.

Washington held Brown scoreless in the two overtimes.

Brown finished with 34 points and Tatum added 27, though on 10-for-32 shooting. Josh Richardson was the only other Celtic to score in double figures, adding 18 points off the bench.

Tatum grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds in the loss, which was Boston's second to Washington in as many games. Al Horford hauled in 10 rebounds and scored eight points while blocking six shots.

Saturday marked the third overtime game for the Celtics in just six games this season.

Wizards: Bradley Beal 36 (7 REB, 6 AST), Spencer Dinwiddie 20 (9 REB), Montrezl Harrell 20 (14 REB), Kyle Kuzma 17 (17 REB).

Celtics: Jaylen Brown 34 (6 REB), Jayson Tatum 27 (15 REB), Josh Richardson 18, Al Horford 8 (10 REB).

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