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2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 15: Celtics Comeback, Jazz Advance And Clippers Keep Clippin’

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 30, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts during the second half of the Boston Celtics 123-111 win over the Washington Wizards in game one of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts during the second half of the Boston Celtics 123-111 win over the Washington Wizards in game one of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Playoffs
Apr 30, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) holds his hand up at his bench after shooting an air ball during the second half of the Boston Celtics 123-111 win over the Washington Wizards in game one of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

A Wizards Bench Of Muggles

The Washington Wizards led by as many as 17 points and dropped a 38-point first quarter in Game 1 on the road.

They looked unstoppable in the opening period, with John Wall getting whatever he wanted, Marcin Gortat dropping the Polish Hammer on the glass and even Kelly Oubre dropping in three-balls.

But then Markieff Morris went down with an ugly ankle injury in the second quarter, and everything changed.

Morris would not return to the game, and the Wizards were outscored by 17 the rest of the way. A lingering injury could completely swing the series in Boston’s favor, but Keef said he’s playing in Game 2.

The Celtics had already clawed their way back into Game 1 when Morris went down, but his injury — and the run that preceded it to get Boston back into the contest — speaks to the larger depth problem that’s been plaguing the Wiz all season long.

If Washington’s starters are Wizards, the second unit is a bunch of Muggles.

Sunday afternoon, even with head coach Scott Brooks staggering his lineups to make sure there was always one or two starters on the floor, Boston went on a run every time the Wizards reserves entered the game.

A lineup including Brandon Jennings, Bojan Bogdanovic and Kelly Oubre watched Washington’s 14-point lead disintegrate to three points. The Wizards’ starters gave up a 27-14 run to start the third quarter, but that was in a lineup with Oubre filling in for Morris. Once the reserves started trickling in, that deficit swelled to 15 heading into the fourth quarter.

Despite 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, Oubre was a -22 in 26 minutes. Bogdanovic recorded 10 points, but was a -15 in his 19 minutes. Washington’s bench actually tied Boston’s second unit with 27 points, but with Oubre forced to step in for Morris, Brooks only had two other reserves to turn to off the pine, pigeonholing John Wall (39 minutes), Bradley Beal (40 minutes) and Otto Porter Jr. (41 minutes) into HEAVY minutes in a double-digit loss.

There were plenty of reasons the Wizards lost aside from the bench. Wall committed eight turnovers. Gortat disappeared after a strong first half. Oh and yeah, they were outscored by 27 points from the three-point line.

But with Morris out in Game 1 and potentially banged up for Game 2, Boston’s superior bench depth could be a real issue moving forward.