Bradley Beal: Last seconds of loss to Celtics were ‘the wackiest —‘

Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards entered Sunday’s game against the Boston Celtics winning seven of their last eight and looked around the world as if they would leave the game winners eight on their last nine.

Instead, the Wizards let Jayson Tatum scroll to the rim in the last minute, and Beal himself slipped and fell with 12 seconds remaining – going out of bounds and returning the ball to the Celtics in one. Tatum’s fourth basket in the final two minutes saw the Celtics win one, and Boston chased Beal around the corner and trapped him on final possession. Beal forced a tough shot, and the Celtics escaped with a savage victory.

Secure the W with this @JetBlue Play the game. pic.twitter.com/i1ORI2Ds9x

– Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 1, 2021

“It was some of the craziest I have ever seen in my life,” Beal said after the game. “Slipped out of bounds, Tatum gave up three layups at the end of the game.”

Beal had reason to smoke. He racked up 46 points on 29 shots and helped the Wizards take a five-point advantage with just 45 seconds left. Even with Tatum’s layups, Washington could have forced the Celtics to shoot 3 points just by making free throws if Beal hadn’t slipped out of bounds.

“We’ve got to win this game, man,” Beal said. “We did everything we could to put ourselves in a position to win. We have to win.

“We’re 7-2 in our last nine. That’s great. We should be 8-1. “

The Celtics, of course, saw it a little differently. Boston overcame the absence of Jaylen Brown, who did not have knee tendonitis, as Daniel Theis racked up 20 points and Kemba Walker had 21 points and eight assists. More importantly, a struggling team has found a way to win a type of game that they have mostly lost recently.

“It was going to be a really tough game, especially the way they play and they’re pretty complete – without Ish [Smith], but pretty full otherwise, ”Stevens said. “I’m really happy with our guys because there were a lot of sleeping opportunities there and they just stayed with it.

And of course Tatum led the way. His late flurry pushed his point total to 31 on a 12-for-22 shot. Beal, who grew up a few years older than Tatum in St. Louis and remains friends with him, reluctantly offered some appreciation.

“He’s a special talent,” Beal said. “Everyone knows about our relationship. Everyone knows we are in competition but we are shooting for each other. So listen, he’s an All-Star for a reason. He’s a special talent. I’m pissed off that he got to fight us. He struggled to get into the game tonight. But he always captures his energy when he plays me, so in that regard, I was happy for him, just from the fans’ point of view that I could get going and get out of his little crisis or whatever, but I hated it was against us. “

For his part, Tatum said he hopes he and Beal will be on the same squad when this year’s All-Star captains part ways with the teams next weekend.

“I have never in organized basketball played on the same team with him,” Tatum said. “So it would be special for us if we can. I mean it’s going to be our first All Star game together, but hopefully we’ll be on the same team.