Pivotal Game 5 awaits Boston as it returns home vs. Wizards

After turning the ball over 18 times in a Game 4 loss, the Celtics had just 11 miscues and kept the Wizards from making the kind of run that doomed them early in the series.

With the likes of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Julian Edelman and LeGarrette Blount in attendance courtside, the Celtics were intent on returning the haymakers the Wizards delivered in Games 3 and 4. The Wiz haven’t won at the TD Garden in five tries this season.

The story of the last two losses for the Celtics has been the abysmal play by their starters and the surprisingly impressive play by their bench.

The Celtics fell apart in the third quarter of game four.

The Celtics scored 67 points through the first half.

The Celtics came into this game with a gameplan surrounding frequent movement from the corners and using IT as a screener. “We want Oubre!” at times during the first quarter.

Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. Not just his value but his awesome value to our team.

-Boston concluded the game shooting 53 percent, their highest shooting percentage for a game in this year’s postseason.

There were so many heroes in Game 5 for the Celtics. Thomas’s nine points in the overtime period helped the Celtics pull the game out from under Washington’s nose. “Tonight we saw if we’re able to start the right way, the game’s in our control.”It marked the fourth time in the series that one team has had a run of at least 16-0, including three times in the first quarter”. From his baseline seat, Belichick held up a green “Let’s Go Celtics” t-shirt to the delight of the sold-out crowd. It is crucial to continue scoring with the high powered offense that Washington boasts.

Gortat laughed off Bradley’s heat-of-the-moment warning, but today he and the Wizards are laughing out of the short side of a 3-2 series deficit.

NOTES: Celtics G Isaiah Thomas was fined $25,000 by the National Basketball Association for “directing inappropriate language toward a fan” in Washington during Game 4. But according to Avery Bradley, that’s exactly what happened. Neither have looked very efficient in this series so it wouldn’t be surprising if Stevens ended up giving Kelly Olynyk the green light.

Other Things to NoteBoston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) reacting during the game.

Heated disagreements aren’t uncommon around the league, either; the Golden State Warriors made headlines for a vicious locker room spat in February 2016, midway through a season in which they won an NBA-record 73 games. This one was especially important because of the Celtics’ tradition. People on the Celtics not named Isaiah have to play with confidence and an edge.

Both Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley went ice cold in Washington. Every team would love a two-way big man who can pass the hell out of the ball, pick-and-pop and hit some 3-pointers. Thomas should have a much better game than he did in Games 3 and 4 in Washington. But that game three did not end without incident.

“Just give him credit”, said Washington star John Wall of Bradley. The Wizards shot 38.9 percent and were just 7 of 29 from beyond the arc. Key to the game – you need to shut down Isaiah. The injury seems to be detracting from his ability to contribute and that definitely showed during the trip to Washington.