The Boston Celtics seemingly found their sweet spot entering the final contest of their six-game road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
Boston had won its last eight straight games and 17 of its last 20 before stepping foot in FedExForum in Memphis. The team’s chase at tying the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best road record in NBA history (34-7) continued as, even without Jaylen Brown, the Celtics managed to maintain their red-hot momentum and set a new franchise record in the process.
For the first time in Celtics history, the team swept a six-game road trip. Boston’s shorthanded lineup didn’t sail smoothly, however, as Ja Morant and the Grizzlies came to compete and defend their home court. It took a collective pitch-in effort from all involved, but the Celtics made it out with an improved 56-19 record and their ninth consecutive victory to keep the streak alive and well.
Here are four studs and two duds from Boston’s 117-103 win over Memphis:
STUDS
Jayson Tatum
Tatum put a close to the road trip on an effective note.
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The six-time All-Star finished with a 25-point and 14-rebound double-double. Tatum shot 10-of-24 from the floor and made up for an uncharacteristic 2-of-11 clip from 3-point range to remain the team’s biggest two-way threat. Tatum was charged with a nearly-costly technical foul in the fourth quarter, but helped the Celtics maintain the poise needed to shut the door on the Grizzlies.
Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis provided the Celtics with all the efficiency they needed.
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Boston’s 7-footer scored 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field. Porzingis connected on 3-of-5 shot attempts from three, and tallied five rebounds and five assists. Playing Robin to Tatum’s Batman, Porzingis notched a game-best plus-29 rating.
Ja Morant
The Grizzlies were able to count on Morant to put forth a solid effort, but it wasn’t enough.
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Morant scored 26 points to lead Memphis. He shot 10-of-20 from the floor, grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and recorded two steals. Morant’s athleticism drew plenty of oohs and ahhs from the crowd, but without enough assistance, the Grizzlies couldn’t dodge their third consecutive loss.
Al Horford
Horford turned back the clock and provided the Celtics with a performance similar to the 18-year veteran’s All-Star form.
Boston received a showing in which Horford contributed on all fronts. He scored a team-leading — and season-high — 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds, tallied two assists and knocked down a game-high six 3-pointers. It was a great sign from Horford and for the Celtics, with the NBA playoffs rapidly approaching in the coming weeks.
DUDS
Xavier Tillman Sr.
The opportunities to play meaningful minutes have come few and far between for Tillman this season. But with a valuable chance to deliver an impact for the Celtics as a part of the team’s starting lineup, Tillman faltered. The 26-year-old made no difference across eight minutes on the floor, scoring two points on 0-of-5 shooting from the field with three rebounds and a turnover.
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Tillman registered a minus-six rating, the lowest of any Boston starter.
Derrick White
Boston couldn’t count on White to deliver a solid performance from 3-point territory — the 30-year-old’s usual bread and butter.
White shot a brutal 4-for-13 from the floor, including an equally atrocious 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, to finish with 14 points. He wasn’t completely ineffective, as White still tallied a game-high 10 assists to get everyone else involved in the scoring department while his shot wasn’t falling, and grabbed eight rebounds.
Ironically enough, White’s third made field goal — on his 12th attempt — helped him set the single-season record for most 3-pointers made (247) in Celtics history.
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