Celtics<\/a>. Without a true center, they were smaller but also faster on the floor. That turned into 36 transition points on the night; Boston only gives up 14 a game on average.<\/p>\nHowever, midway through the third quarter with the game tied 76-76, Sam Hauser and Al Horford replaced Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. The substitution gave Boston that vaunted double big pairing with Horford and Kristaps Porzingis (and the 6\u20198 Jayson Tatum at the 3) and a height advantage across the front court. That effectively turned the tables on Washington by slowing down the game on defense and playing with more purpose on the other side of the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cA good shot, I don\u2019t care where it is on the floor. We take what the defense gives us and we\u2019re taking advantage with what we think the other team\u2019s weaknesses are. It doesn\u2019t matter what kind of shot it is,\u201d head coach Joe Mazzulla said after the game. In the end, the Celtics outscored the Wizards 62-42 in the paint by taking it to Washington\u2019s weakest defenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe joke about it a lot, but the point is to infiltrate the defense, take advantage of the weakness, take the best shot possible based on their coverages and our matchups.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Washington](\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/x7VMiACgktp1IL0NT9SsV61iw4I=\/0x0:3765x2510\/1310x873\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_image\/image\/73128626\/1991172759.0.jpg\")