Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce sat out nearly half the game, and the bench players did their part in preserving the advantage, allowing everyone to rest up for tomorrow's visit to New York.
"It's strange to go out West, you come home, unpack, and then go back out on the road," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "The guarantee is everybody is going to play 82 [games]."
Pierce (26 points in 26 minutes) converted his first nine shots before missing a trey late in the third quarter, shortly before going to the bench for the night. Pierce hit his first five 3-pointers, one fewer than the team record without a miss, set by Danny Ainge at Utah Jan. 4, 1988, and tied by Walter McCarty at Toronto Nov. 2, 1999.
This game had the makings of a blowout early, and the Celtics' starters confirmed that early in the second half. Rajon Rondo extended the lead to 30 points, sinking a 3-pointer with :02 on the shot clock for a 73-43 advantage.
"Recharge is always good, but for the most part our focus is starting games," Garnett said. "Our biggest key is starting games, finishing games, finishing quarters off, being consistent with defense, and I thought we did that. That's the value in coming out strong. That's the reward for coming out and setting the tone defensively."
After a 27-2 start, the best record in NBA history through 29 games, the Celtics faltered against the Lakers, Golden State, and Portland. But they are clearly coasting in the East, as they are 21-1 against Eastern Conference foes.
"We approach each game individually, we don't keep up with the standings," Garnett said. "Obviously, we want to establish home court, we want to gain home-court advantage. But we take one game at a time."
The Wizards (6-25) were playing without Gilbert Arenas (knee), DeShawn Stevenson (back strain), and Brendan Haywood (wrist), but the Celtics did not consider their absences, and the expected less-than-full-speed status of Caron Butler (ankle) to be good omens.
In their loss to Golden State, the Warriors played without Corey Maggette and Portland was able to beat the Green without star guard Brandon Roy.
