The Boston Celtics became the third team in NBA history to win multiple games by 50 or more points in a single season after routing the Brooklyn Nets 136–86 on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
Boston’s other 50-plus point win came on Nov. 1 when the Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 155–104 at home.
On Wednesday night, Boston was paced by 27 points from guard Derrick White and 20 points from star Jayson Tatum to give the Celtics a big lead. Payton Pritchard came off the bench and played extended minutes in the blowout, scoring a game-high 28 points on 11 of 16 shooting from the field in 32 minutes.
Boston has won six straight games and eight of its last 10 entering the All-Star break. The Celtics are a league-best 43–12 on the season and extended its lead in the East to six games over the current No. 2 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. In addition, Boston improved its home record to an impressive 26–3 on the season.
“You can’t operate by feeling, so regardless if we lost tonight and won five out of six or six out of six, you have a tendency to relax. You have a tendency to put it in cruise control. So winning is just as dangerous as losing if you don’t handle it the right way,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of his team’s mindset after the victory.
Wednesday night’s win marked Mazzulla’s 100th career victory, and he credited the support system around him for the success he’s had in the league so far.
“I told the guys, it’s something to be proud of, something to be grateful for, and it’s just a testament to the people you have around you,” Mazzulla said. “In a business where individual success is highly talked about on a nightly basis, the box scores and stuff like that, to have a group of people you can share in your success with is important.”
Tatum presented Mazzulla with a game ball in the locker room as the team celebrated his historic night.
100 career wins and counting for Joe 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/529lyQR2KR
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 15, 2024
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The Celtics are now off until next Thursday in Chicago, when they’ll begin the stretch run of the season and pursuit of the franchise’s 18th championship.
