Today in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics lost to a determined Washington Wizards team, 96-90, during the 2020 restart held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It is important to note that the Celtics did not field their top players that night, as they opted to rest their starters in preparation for their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Wizards center Thomas Bryant delivered an impressive performance, scoring 26 points, securing 9 rebounds, providing 2 assists, and recording 4 steals. Additionally, teammate, Troy Brown Jr., contributed another 17 points and 8 rebounds.
The game was hard to watch for fans of both teams, with neither shooting above 40 percent from the floor. The Celtics were led by guard Javonte Green’s 23 points, a season-high for the reserve wing. “He played with great intensity on both ends of the floor, was trying to do all the right stuff, and obviously made a big impact offensively and did some really good things on the glass,” said then-head coach Brad Stevens after the game via the AP. Forward Semi Ojeleye added 13 points and 8 rebounds, and Grant Williams provided 7 points and 8 boards off the bench.
Boston’s next game would find the Celtics taking on the Sixers in the first round of the 2020 East Playoffs.
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Finally, it is also the date that point guard Dennis Schroder signed a contract with the team in 2021. The German floor general signed what was then seen as a below-market deal after misreading the market. He ended up agreeing to a mini-mid level exception instead of a much larger offer he could have signed to return to the Lakers.
Schroder’s tenure in Boston was a short one — just 49 games — before he’d be dealt to the Houston Rockets along with Enes Kanter Freedom in a trade bringing back old friend Daniel Theis. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game with the team.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Today in Boston Celtics history: Boston ends COVID-halted season with Wiz loss; Schroder deal