Neemias Queta dominates early, Jayson Tatum’s looks great during extended work, and Boston opens homestand with convincing win.
The Boston Celtics (44-23) got back on track Saturday night.
After dropping two straight games earlier in the week, Boston returned home to TD Garden and handled business with a 100-89 win over the Washington Wizards (16-50). The final score looked somewhat respectable thanks to a late push from Washington, but the game was effectively decided long before the fourth quarter.
Boston broke things open with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Wizards 35-14 to turn what had been a competitive first frame into a comfortable halftime cushion. The Celtics eventually stretched their advantage to as many as 30 points before easing off the gas late in the game.
It wasn’t Boston’s cleanest offensive night - especially from 3-point range - but the Celtics dominated inside and leaned on strong performances from several frontcourt contributors to secure the win.
Neemias Queta led the way with one of the best outings of his young career, finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jayson Tatum added a double-double with 20 points and 14 boards in his return to the lineup, while Luka Garza chipped in 15 points off the bench.
Washington, meanwhile, dropped its 11th straight game despite a team-high 22 points from Tristan Vukcevic.
With the win, Boston completed a season sweep of the Wizards and opened its three-game homestand on the right foot. The Celtics will now look to carry that momentum into Monday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns (39-28).
Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win.
1. Queta Dominates Early:
Queta wasted no time imposing himself in this matchup.
The Celtics center took full advantage of Washington’s shaky pick-and-roll defense, scoring 22 of his 24 points in the first half. Nearly all of that production came around the rim, as Queta repeatedly slipped into open space for easy finishes inside.
He knocked down 10 of his 12 field-goal attempts - all from the paint - while also adding 6 rebounds and a block before halftime. His early surge helped Boston build a 23-point lead at the break despite the team struggling from beyond the arc.
Queta ultimately finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes, continuing what has quietly been a strong stretch of play whenever he’s been given extended minutes.
Mar 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the second half at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)2. Tatum’s Workload Increases, Plays Really Well:
Saturday also marked a small but meaningful step forward for Tatum.
After returning earlier in the week while working under a strict minutes restriction, the Celtics star saw his playing time increase significantly.
Tatum played a season-high 32 minutes, five more than his previous limit, as Boston continues to ease him back into a full workload.
The forward started slowly, missing his first five shots, but eventually settled into a rhythm during the middle quarters.
By the end of the third period, Tatum had already recorded 18 points and 14 rebounds while helping stabilize Boston’s offense during key stretches. He also added 7 assists, turning in arguably his most complete performance since returning to the lineup.
3. Beyond The Arc Shooting Goes Cold:
Boston’s outside shooting nearly turned what should have been a blowout into a slightly uncomfortable finish.
The Celtics shot just 12 of 46 (26.1%) from beyond the arc, with several of their top perimeter threats struggling. Tatum went 2 of 9 from three, Jaylen Brown missed all five of his attempts, and Payton Pritchard went 0 of 4.
Fortunately for Boston, the interior offense more than made up for the poor shooting night.
The Celtics dominated the paint 54-28, repeatedly attacking the rim and taking advantage of Washington’s lack of interior resistance.
4. Washington’s Rebuild:
The Wizards remain one of the league’s toughest watches right now.
Washington entered the night on a double-digit losing streak and showed few signs of turning things around against Boston.
Defensive effort was inconsistent throughout the game, particularly during the decisive second quarter when the Celtics carved them up with ease.
There are still a few intriguing pieces on the roster - including young center Alex Sarr - but the overall product remains very much a work in progress.
For Boston, though, none of that mattered much.
The Celtics simply needed a win after a difficult stretch, and they got it.
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.