A blockbuster trade involving the Lakers is working out well for the Wizards.
So well, in fact, that the Wizards are beat the Celtics on the road, 116-107, and got a remarkable performance from a former member of the Lakers to do it.
That would be none other than Montrezl Harrell, who erupted for 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds.
(Meanwhile, former Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook and the Lakers blew a 26-point lead and lost at Oklahoma City.)
Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points for the Wizards, and Bradley Beal scored 17, as they improved to 3-1. Two more former Lakers — Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — scored 12 and 11, respectively.
“I think we did a great job of just breathing, slowing it down and figuring our composure out,” Kuzma told reporters. “I think once we did that, we did a great job. Obviously those moments are great and its great to have them on the road.”
Things aren’t nearly as rosy for the Celtics under first-year coach Ime Udoka. They dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 at home.
“Our intensity and focus wasn’t there from the start,” Udoka said. “You could see it in the first quarter; honestly from shootaround, where I got on them for lack of focus.”
But the Wizards also have a first-year coach in Wes Unseld Jr. and a bunch of first-time faces, and things are going considerably for them early because of it.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 23 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 and Al Horford scored 16.
“I expected us to come out here and win, and be at a certain level,” Horford said. “We need to be better than this. There’s a lot of work ahead for us.”
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