The Washington Wizards play at the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Here is all you need to know: TV, live stream and radio info, tip-off time, plus three things to watch…
WASHINGTON WIZARDS at BOSTON CELTICS
Where: TD Garden
Tip-off: 8 p.m.
TV: CSN (coverage begins at 7:30 p.m.)
Live stream: CSNmidatlantic.com
Radio: 1500 AM
Three things to watch...
Back-to-back, road issues
The Wizards eclipsed the .500 mark for the first time this season with their win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night, but they won't be able to enjoy that very long. They have a quick turnaround with a game at the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in the second leg of a back-to-back set. The Celtics currently hold the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 23-15 and are a solid 11-6 at home.
There are several other factors at play that are worth watching. For one, the Wizards have been awful in the second games of back-to-backs. They are just 1-6 in those scenarios, having lost four straight going back to Nov. 17. And on the road, the Wizards have had some trouble. Though they won their last road game on Sunday in Milwaukee, the Wizards are just 4-12 away from D.C. Only the 8-29 Brooklyn Nets have fewer road wins among NBA teams.
[RELATED: Wizards hope for better start against Celtics]
Horford faces Wizards
The Wizards beat the Celtics at home in their first matchup on Nov. 9 and they did so despite seeing Bradley Beal leave the game in the first half with a hamstring injury. But Boston was also down a key player with Al Horford sidelined at the time with a concussion.
On Wednesday, the Wizards will get their first look at Horford on the Celtics since he joined them in free agency. The Wizards met with Horford and were reported by some as a finalist, but the veteran big man chose Boston instead. Whether that means anything to the Wizards players themselves is unknown, but it will surely be noted by fans. Horford, by the way, is scoring 15.3 points and dishing out a career-high 4.9 assists, but his 6.8 rebounds per game and 45.2 field goal percentage are both career-lows.
Wall vs. Smart
Wednesday will also offer a rematch between John Wall and Marcus Smart. Wall was ejected in that Nov. 9 game for a hard foul on Smart with 5:24 left in the fourth quarter. Wall ran up to Smart and took him to the ground while Smart was bringing the ball up the floor. It earned Wall his second ejection in as many games.
That play was the culmination of a frustrating and physical night for Wall and the Wizards. He thought he was stepped on purposefully by a Celtics player and targeted in the head on a layup by another. Avery Bradley was included in Wall's ire, but he may not play Wednesday due to an Achilles strain. Whether he does play or not, watch for Wall to have a little extra motivation in this game.
[RELATED: Wall would be 'disappointed' not to make All-NBA team]