Wizards shut down Isaiah Thomas, dominate Celtics in physical Game 3

WASHINGTON — The Wizards weren't about to watch a double-digit first-quarter lead whittle away for a third straight game.

In Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Boston Celtics on Thursday night at the Verizon Center, the Wizards jumped out to a 39-17 first-quarter lead — much like the 38-24 and 42-29 first-quarter leads they had in Games 1 and 2. Only this time they held onto it, winning 116-89 to cut the series deficit to 2-1.

John Wall, Washington’s star point guard who has upped his game to a new level this postseason and put together an epic 40-point, 13-assist outing in Tuesday’s loss, finished with 24 points and eight assists in 34 minutes. He's the first player in NBA history to post at least 20 points and seven assists in 10 straight playoff games.

Center Marcin Gortat added 13 points and 16 rebounds and forward Otto Porter Jr. had a playoff career-high 19 points (on 8-of-13 shooting) to go along with eight rebounds.

Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, who struggled in Game 2, still had trouble with his shot (11 points on 4-of-12 shooting), but he set the tone early, scoring Washington’s first seven points.

After Celtics forward Jae Crowder scored a layup at the 6:39 mark in the first quarter to tie the game up at 12, the Wizards — fueled by Porter and forward Bojan Bodganovic — went on a 22-0 run. The Celtics never got back within single digits.

"Being home, we had the crowd on our side and we were just locked in," Porter said. "We knew they were going to try and make a couple runs, but we decided to stick with our game plan and go from there."

The Wizards shot 46.7% from the field as a team and dominated the battle in the paint, outscoring Boston 56-28. They also grabbed 50 rebounds to Boston’s 38.

Unlike Games 1 and 2 where the Celtics shot 51.1% from the field and scored 123 and 129 points, respectively, the Wizards were much more energized and locked in on the defensive end of the floor, keeping the physicality high from start to finish. They held Boston to 35.1% shooting, forced 16 turnovers and limited point guard Isaiah Thomas – whose 53-point performance in Game 2 had him looking nearly unstoppable – to just 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting.

"They were very aggressive in pick and rolls and me coming off down screens and things like that and we didn't adjust in the game," Thomas said. " ... They did what they were supposed to do. They hit first, they set the tone."

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Wizards' Kelly Oubre Jr. ejected after shoving Celtics' Kelly Olynyk

The extra physicality led to a few chippy moments, including an incident early in the second quarter where Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. was ejected for shoving Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk to the ground. A scuffle between both teams ensued, and after the play was reviewed further, Oubre was issued a Flagrant 2 Foul and subsequently ejected.

Wizards guard Brandon Jennings and Celtics guard Terry Rozier were later ejected after picking up two technical fouls each — two more examples of how this has become one of the fiercest rivalries in the Eastern Conference.

"We don't like them and they don't like us," Thomas said. "That's just what it is, two teams competing. Whatever bad blood we had in the season has carried over into the playoffs. We're just competing and trying to win."

After six consecutive wins, Thursday's loss was the Celtics' first since Game 2 in their first-round series against the Chicago Bulls.

Game 4 – Washington’s chance to notch the series up at two games apiece – tips off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK

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