WASHINGTON - When you play for a franchise that has won an NBA-best 17 titles and boasts Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and Larry Bird among many others, it's hard to do something that hasn't been done in franchise history. Well, today's Celtics accomplished that rare feat last night.
The Celtics pushed to a franchise-best 21-2 start by hammering the Washington Wizards, 122-88, at the
"It's always good to make history, especially when you're playing for such a storied franchise," forward Paul Pierce said. "There are not a lot of record-breaking moments with the Celtics because you know they've done so much with the history . . . Whenever we can make history, it's great."
Said forward Kevin Garnett, "Any time you can make history, you always have to give it up to the people that have come before you. I'm a big fan of history. But to establish ourselves in history that is so enriched with culture, prestige, and tradition is a great thing."
The Celtics also had a season-high margin of victory, bettering a 24-point blowout of Philadelphia Nov. 28. Pierce and Ray Allen scored 22 points. All the starters scored in double figures, highlighted by Garnett's line: 11 points, 11 rebounds, and a season-high 7 assists. The Wizards shot 43.1 percent from the field, missed 14 of 18 3-pointers, and allowed 32 points off 22 turnovers.
Garnett wore a white wrap around his right knee instead of his usual black one, prompting concern he might have a knee injury. He didn't seem to move as smoothly as normal, but said, "I'm out there. I'm doing what I do. I don't think anyone in the league is 100 percent. I am energetic in setting guys up, making plays, and getting guys easy baskets."
The Wizards (4-16) won the series against Boston, 3-1, last season despite missing star guard Gilbert Arenas, who was injured for two of the wins.
But Arenas and center Brendan Haywood have been out all of this season, and without them around, the Celtics opened a 36-21 lead in the first quarter.
"We came here with a little something on our shoulder, to be honest," Garnett said. "Washington has played us the best out of any of the teams in the league and they have a little swag with them. Tonight, there really wasn't much to be said."
Allen nailed four 3-pointers and had 13 points and Pierce added 10 points in the Celtics' highest-scoring first quarter of the season. Boston scored 35 points against Golden State Nov. 26.
The Celtics shot 50 percent (12 of 24) on field goal attempts in the first and scored 10 points in the paint.