Tatum drops 50 as Celtics top Wizards, book 1st-round clash with Nets

The Washington Wizards had no answers for Jayson Tatum on Tuesday night in Boston.

Tatum led all scorers with 50 points as the Celtics outgunned the Wizards 118-100 in their play-in matchup to secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and a first-round date with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Wizards will host the Indiana Pacers on Thursday for a chance to clinch the final spot in the East and a best-of-seven series with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Trailing 54-52 at the break, the Celtics came out firing in the third quarter. Tatum and Kemba Walker combined to score all but two of Boston's points in a dominant 22-4 run to start the second half.

Without fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown and key frontcourt contributor Robert Williams, who was forced to exit at the half with foot and toe injuries, Tatum took charge, posting 21 points in the third quarter.

Tatum went 5-for-12 from deep and a perfect 17-for-17 from the charity stripe, tying Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry for the most 50-point performances this season with three.

Walker finished with 29 points, and Tristan Thompson chipped in 12 points and 12 boards in Williams' stead.

The Wizards got 22 points from a hobbled Bradley Beal on an off shooting night for Russell Westbrook, who went 6-for-18 from the field for 20 points to go with 14 rebounds and five assists. Veteran point guard Ish Smith contributed 17 points in 26 minutes off the bench.

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens will now prepare his squad for the unenviable task of facing the Nets and their star-studded offense. Game 1 tips off Saturday night in Brooklyn.