Celtics vs 76ers 27/02/2024
The Sixers entered the TD Garden without star big man Joel Embiid, but they were able to cause Boston some issues offensively, they managed to drive the Celtics away from their favoured 3-point shots and limit them to only 22 attempts from beyond the arc. However, Boston’s star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took advantage of Philadelphia’s weak interior defence and continued to drive the ball to the basket with a huge degree of success. In the end the firepower of the Celtics broke through, and they claimed a resounding 117-99 victory over their Atlantic division rivals.
Celtics vs Mavericks 01/03/2024
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks arrived in Boston to begin the month of March looking to split the season series, after the Celtics had run them off their own court a few weeks prior. Doncic dominated the Celtics with the ball in hand putting up a monstrous 37-point triple-double, however the Mavs defence was no match for the excellence of Boston’s offense. The Celtics scored 138 points and demonstrated quite the offensive masterclass, all five Celtics starters finished with in double digits and demonstrated exactly why they are the NBA’s best offense ever.
Celtics vs Warriors 03/03/2024
A rematch of the 2022 NBA finals was next for the Celtics, as Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors came into town. This would prove to be Boston’s most impressive victory of the season. They completely blew away the helpless Warriors defence and led by 44 at halftime, the Warriors had little to no answer to the Boston offense and they did try some bizarre tactics, including leaving all-star Jaylen Brown wide open from beyond the arc. Brown proceeded to go 5/10 from the 3-point line and finished the game with 29 points.
Celtics @ Cavaliers 05/03/2024
The Celtics then hit the road and travelled to Cleveland to face the 2 seeded Cavaliers in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Boston was in cruise control for the majority of the game leading by double-digits most of the way, until Dean Wade absolutely took over. He scored 20 points in the fourth quarter alone, including 6 3-pointers to overturn a 12-point fourth quarter lead. The Cavaliers eventually claimed a 105-104 win,
Celtics @ Nuggets 07/03/2024
Boston then took their road trip out west to face the reigning NBA champions - the Denver Nuggets – as they looked to tie up the season series. The Nuggets snapped Boston’s 23 game home winning streak back in January and they managed to get the better of them once again. Nikola Jokic dominated with yet another 30-point triple-double and led his side to a 7-point victory, despite Jaylen Brown’s excellent 41-point performance.
Celtics @ Suns 09/03/2024
The Celtics arrived in Phoenix on their worst losing streak of the season, after bottling a lead late to the Cavaliers and losing a close one in Denver to the Nuggets. However, that losing streak would not last long, Boston claimed a comfortable victory over the Suns in Phoenix despite a superb 45-point outing from Kevin Durant. It was the two Jays that really got it done in this one as they combined for 56 points to lead the way for the Celtics.
Celtics @ Trailblazers 11/03/2024
The Celtics Road trip continued as they headed up to Oregon to face the Trailblazers in the Moda Center. As usual Boston dominated their inferior opponents as they comprehensively beat Portland by 22 points to secure back-to-back victories. Both Jays surpassed 25 points once again but this time they were complemented nicely by a 22-point outing from Sam Hauser, who ended the game with 6 made 3-pointers on ten attempts.
Celtics @ Jazz 12/03/2024
Boston headed to Utah the very next day to face the Jazz, as they looked to end their road stretch on a high. They completely took control of this one mainly due to Jayson Tatum’s superb performance; he scored 38 points to lead the Celtics to a 16-point win.
Celtics vs Suns 14/03/2024
These two sides met just five days earlier in Arizona and Boston came out on top 117-107. There was no difference this time, the Celtics dominated offensively, and Jaylen Brown took over. Brown scored 37 points and hauled in 5 rebounds to lead the way for Boston. Phoenix did put up a fight and did an excellent job at crashing the glass, especially Jusuf Nurkic he grabbed 20 rebounds including 13 offensive boards.
Celtics @ Wizards 17/03/2024
Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White were all absent, but it would not matter against an awful Wizards roster. Sam Hauser completely took over this one he nailed 10 3-pointers and looked to be on his way to beating Klay Thompson’s record, unfortunately he twisted his ankle on a wizard’s bench player’s foot and exited the game midway through the third quarter.
Celtics vs Pistons 18/03/2024
Boston was short-handed again the very next day, but again faced a massively inferior opponent in the 15 seeded Pistons. Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White all contributed 20+ points as the Celtics cruised to a sixth successive victory, coming out on top 119-94.
Celtics vs Bucks 20/03/2024
Next up at the TD Garden was a visit from the 2 seeded Milwaukee Bucks who were without former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Boston had dominated the game throughout the first half, with excellent play from Tatum, Brown, and Porzinigis. However, the Bucks rallied massively and cut the Celtics’ lead down to just three. But Boston managed to hang on and eventually came out on top 122-119.
Celtics @ Pistons 22/03/2024
Detroit was the first stop on the Celtics final road trip of the season, and it went just as expected. Boston routed the Pistons 129-102, they were led by Brown, White, Pritchard, Porzingis who all contributed 19+ points on the way to yet another win.
Celtics @ Bulls 23/03/2024
Chicago was Boston’s next opponent, and the Celtics had a battle on their hands in the first half, as DeMar DeRozan got to his midrange spots and knocked them down. DeRozan finished up with 28 points and 9 assists, however they fell off in the second half and Boston took advantage. Sam Hauser had another sensational shooting night as he finished with 7 3-pointers on just eight attempts.
Celtics @ Hawks 25 and 28/03/2024
Boston held a 9-game winning streak and it looked likely to continue as they faced a lacklustre Atlanta side in successive games at State Farm Arena. Everything was going perfectly for the Celtics as they tore apart the Hawks defence in the first half and even led by 30 mid-way through the second quarter. However, Boston took their foot off the gas and slumped to an incredibly disappointing 120-118. The Celtics disappointed yet again just three days later as they lost another close one in overtime to the Hawks, this time Dejounte Murray scored a career-high 44 points on 44 attempts.
Celtics @ Pelicans 30/03/2024
The Smoothie King Center was the next stop for the Celtics, as they faced Zion Williamson and the Pelicans. New Orleans took over the early exchanges and led by nine points after the first quarter. But the Celtics quickly bounced back and held the Pelicans to just 31 points across the second and third quarter. They eventually claimed a simple 12-point win.
Celtics @ Hornets 01/04/2024
The final stop of the road trip was Charlotte to face the Hornets, who now have former Celtics forward Grant Williams. Grant played excellently against his former side and put-up numbers of 23 points and 7 rebounds, however it would not be enough to holt the firepower of the Celtics. Hauser played outstandingly once again, connecting on 7 of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc. The Celtics went on to win 118-104.
Celtics vs Thunder 03/04/2024
Oklahoma City rolled into the TD Garden to face the Celtics after beating them at home to begin 2024. The Thunder were without all-star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for this one and it showed, the Celtics absolutely blew away the Thunder within three quarters and eventually finished with an emphatic 35-point win. Kristaps Porzingis led the way in this one scoring 27 points on just 14 shots.
Celtics vs Kings 05/04/2024
This was yet another game in which the Celtics’ starting 5 just dominated their opposition as they handed over a 19-point lead to the bench unit with around 7 minutes left to play. It looked like it may have been a mistake as the Kings whittled down the Celtics lead and even led themselves with under a minute to go, but Xavier Tillman came up with the clutch floater with just 7 seconds left to seal the victory for Boston.
Celtics vs Trailblazers 07/04/2024
Three former Celtics – Dalano Banton, Rob Williams, and Malcom Brogdon – entered the TD Garden to face Boston. Banton, who was traded to Portland at the trade deadline, has been somewhat of a revelation in a larger role for the Blazers and he continued his stellar form against his old team, scoring 28 points and dishing out 9 assists. Nevertheless, Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard played superbly and took Boston to yet another comfortable W.
Celtics @ Bucks 09/04/2024
The final road game of the 23/24 NBA season for the Celtics was a trip to Milwaukee to face the Bucks who have struggled since the appointment of Doc Rivers as head coach. The Celtics made the choice to rest both big men – Al Horford and Kristaps Porzinigis. That decision looked smart as Giannis Antetokounmpo hobbled off with a calf injury which was later revealed to keep him out of the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks managed to pull off the win without Giannis as the two sides split the season series.
Celtics vs Knicks 11/04/2024
The New York Knicks were probably sick of the sight of the Boston Celtics up to this point as Boston had managed to get the better of them in all four meetings thus far. But it would be a different story this time around as they Knicks managed to pull off a resounding win behind 39 points from all-star guard Jalen Brunson.
Celtics vs Hornets 12/04/2024
It was finally time for us Celtics fans to enjoy some extended minutes from the bench unit as Joe Mazzulla opted to rest the entire starting five, as well as Al Horford for the remainder of the season. Payton Pritchard was finally handed a starting role and he completely took over, scoring 31 points (a career-high) and dishing out 11 assists to gift Boston their 63rd win of the season.
Celtics vs Wizards 14/04/2024
It was an emotional day for Celtics fans as it would be Mike Gorman’s final ever game as commentator for the Celtics. He was serenaded by the Boston faithful, and the Celtics provided one final victory as a parting gift. Payton Pritchard was once again simply fantastic he broke his career- high which he set just one game earlier, scoring 38 points and was just a single rebound away from a second career triple-double. Shoutout to Svi Mykhailiuk who also contributed 26 points and six threes as Boston ended the season with a 64th victory 132-122.
By Will C
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