Tatum building toward his best form
The win was Tatum’s fourth game back in the lineup since his return on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks, and his most complete performance of the stretch so far. He finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds and added seven assists, showing comfort and efficiency in a starting lineup that also included Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta.
His return has been gradual. In his first game back, Tatum scored 15 points on 6-for-16 shooting and pulled down 12 boards against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He matched the shooting percentage in his second game and scored 20 against the Denver Nuggets. Against the San Antonio Spurs in his third appearance, he took 24 shots and scored 24 points but the Celtics still dropped the game. Saturday’s performance felt like a step closer to full rhythm.
A new partnership taking shape
The most quietly significant development of the night may have been what is growing between Tatum and Queta. The veteran center started in place of Nikola Vucevic, who remains out after surgery to repair a fractured right ring finger, and he made the most of his time alongside Tatum.
Four of Tatum’s seven assists went directly to Queta. On the other end of that exchange, Queta has been actively working to create better looks for Tatum, accounting for involvement in five of Tatum’s 11 made three-pointers since his return, three through direct assists and two through screen assists. Since coming back, 33.3% of Tatum’s 18 total assists this season have gone to Queta.
The two-man pick-and-roll partnership is still in its early stages, but its potential is evident. As the season shifts toward half-court playoff basketball, that connection could become a meaningful piece of coach Joe Mazzulla’s offensive approach.
White and the supporting cast deliver
Derrick White also returned to the court after sitting out Thursday’s narrow 104-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside Tatum as part of injury management. White is having one of his finest individual seasons, averaging 17.5 points per game and a career-high in assists. His efficiency has dipped slightly, but his volume and impact remain consistent, and his presence alongside Tatum and Brown gives Boston one of the more complete guard combinations in the East.
Baylor Scheierman was also available despite dealing with a right ankle sprain, listed as probable ahead of tip-off and able to contribute off the bench.
Where Boston stands
The Celtics entered Saturday at 43-23, holding the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks sit one game back, while the Detroit Pistons have opened a five-game cushion at the top of the conference. Closing that gap before the postseason looks unlikely, but Boston has exceeded expectations given the significant time Tatum has missed and the roster churn the team has navigated.
Going 6-4 over the last 10 games while managing Tatum’s return from a serious injury is a reasonable outcome, and a win over Washington on Saturday is the kind of result the Celtics needed to stabilize heading into what will become a more demanding schedule.
Washington’s struggles continue
The Wizards fell to 16-49 with the loss, continuing one of the more difficult seasons in the franchise’s recent history. Bilal Coulibaly had led Washington with 29 points in Thursday’s overtime loss to the Orlando Magic, but the Wizards were without several key contributors Saturday. Anthony Davis remains out with a left finger sprain, Kyshawn George is sidelined with a left elbow sprain, Cam Whitmore is done for the season after a blood clot in his right shoulder and D’Angelo Russell is away from the team. Sharife Cooper entered the game as questionable due to a right ankle and foot sprain.
