Tatum has 32 to help Celtics hold off Beal, Wizards 116-107

Updated Jan. 8, 2021 10:59 p.m. ET

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BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 32 points, Jaylen Brown had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics held off Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards 116-107 Friday night for their fourth straight win.

Beal had 41 points and eight rebounds a game after tying the franchise record with 60 points against the 76ers.

Tatum hit 14 of 27 shots to power the short-handed Celtics, who were without Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams and Robert Williams. The trio is sidelined in COVID-19 health and safety protocol for the next seven days.

“Our job’s not to make excuses for who’s not here,” coach Brad Stevens said. “It’s to play as well as we can with who is and let the results take care of themselves.”

Rui Hachimura had 17 points and Davis Bertans had 13 as the Wizards dropped to 2-7.

The Celtics were cruising early, outscoring the Wizards 33-19 in the second quarter. They increased a 19-point halftime lead to 28 in the first five minutes of the third quarter.

The Wizards rallied from there, clawing within 99-95 with 7:36 left in the game.

Boston scored seven straight points to build a small cushion. It was 106-101 when Marcus Smart led a fast break and found Brown for a corner 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining.

Coach Scott Brooks said he may have played Beal too many minutes down the stretch.

“It’s really on me. I tried to get him some extra minutes because we were right there,” Brooks said. "He’s been playing probably three minutes too many. It doesn’t sound like a lot. But it does add up.”

Russell Westbrook was in action just two days after dislocating a finger on his right hand late in Washington’s loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday night. He played with his right ring and pinkie fingers taped together. He finished with 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting from the field.

Daniel Theis started at center for Boston and picked up two quick fouls, prompting Stevens to play second-year, 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall for just the second time this season. Fall made the most of the opportunity, coming up with a

“The coaches have been on me to just stay ready," Fall said. "The game has slowed down a lot which has made my game a lot easier. ... I know I belong, it’s just a matter of going out there and doing my job on a consistent basis.”

TIP-INS

Wizards: Despite playing the 76ers on Wednesday, a day before Philadelphia guard Seth Curry tested positive for the coronavirus, coach Scott Brooks said they haven’t had any positive tests. ... Westbrook was assessed a technical foul from the bench in the third quarter.

Celtics: Had a pregame moment of silence for former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal, then continued to take a knee for the national anthem. Westphal was a member of the Celtics’ 1973-74 championship team. ... G Jeff Teague returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle. ... Led by 21 in the first half. ... Semi Ojeleye scored eight straight points in the opening three minutes of the third quarter.

WALKER CLEARED FOR PRACTICE

Celtics All-Star point guard

Walker hasn’t played this season after receiving a stem cell injection in his left knee prior to the start of training camp last month. He’s been on a 12-week strengthening program since the early October procedure.

Stevens said Walker’s been pain-free during individual workouts and that the next step is for him to go through some live practices with teammates.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Host the Heat on Saturday.

Celtics: Host the Heat on Sunday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics

National Basketball Association

Tristan Thompson

Bradley Beal

Grant Williams

Semi Ojeleye

Jeff Teague

Robert Williams III

Kemba Walker

Marcus Smart

Jaylen Brown

Rui Hachimura

Jayson Tatum

Daniel Theis

Seth Curry

Tacko Fall

Russell Westbrook

Boston Celtics

Washington Wizards

Philadelphia 76ers

Miami Heat