Bradley Beal: The final seconds of the loss to the Celtics were ‘the dumbest —‘

Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards entered Sunday’s game against the Boston Celtics, winners of seven of their last eight games, and looked to the world as if they were leaving the winners of games of eight of their last nine.

Instead, the Wizards let Jayson Tatum parade to the edge in the final minute, and Beal himself slipped and fell with the remaining 12 seconds – leaving the field and returning the ball to the Celtics with just one. Tatum’s fourth basket in the final two minutes put the Celtics at an advantage, and Boston chased Beal in the corner and arrested him in final possession. Beal forced a difficult shot and the Celtics escaped with a savage victory.

Protected the W with this @JetBlue Game Play. pic.twitter.com/i1ORI2Ds9x

– Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 1, 2021

“That was one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen,” said Beal after the game. “Slipped out of bounds, gave Tatum three layups at the end of the game.”

Beal had reasons to smoke. He conceded 46 points from 29 shots and helped the Wizards to build a five-point lead with only 45 seconds remaining. Even with Tatum’s layups, Washington could have forced the Celtics to shoot 3 points simply by making free throws if Beal had not strayed.

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

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

The Celtics, of course, saw things a little differently. Boston overcame the absence of Jaylen Brown, who was left out with tendonitis in his knee, while Daniel Theis added 20 points and Kemba Walker scored 21 points and eight important assists. More importantly, a struggling team has found a way to win a type of game they have largely lost recently.

“This was going to be a very difficult game, especially the way they were playing and were very full – without Ish [Smith], but very crowded otherwise, ”said Stevens. “I am very happy with our guys, because there were so many opportunities to give up and they just kept going.”

And, of course, Tatum led the way. His late explosion brought his total score to 31 out of 12 out of 22 shots. Beal, who grew up a few years older than Tatum in St. Louis and remains a close friend of him, reluctantly offered some thanks.

“He’s a special talent,” said Beal. “Everyone knows our relationship. Everyone knows that we compete, but we fight for each other. So, listen, he’s an All-Star for a reason. He’s a special talent. I’m upset that he really has to go against us. He’s been struggling a few times to go to the game tonight. But he always takes his energy when he plays me, so in that respect, I was happy for him, just for the fan aspect of being able to get up and get out of his little depression or something, but I hate that, it was against us . “

For his part, Tatum said he expects him and Beal to be on the same team when this year’s All-Star captains separate the teams next weekend.

“I have never, in organized basketball, played on the same team with him,” said Tatum. “So that 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. “