Rockets Edge Wizards, Trae Ejected
The Houston Rockets beat the Washington Wizards 123-118 in a wild game where Trae Young was ejected before tipoff. Other notable results include the Celtics blowing out the Bucks 105-79 and the Nuggets trailing the Jazz 55-58 early. The post-All-Star Celtics are struggling with losses by 11 to Warriors, 22 to Lakers, and 16 to Suns, though Jayson Tatum is returning soon.
Trae Young's ejection occurred before he could even make his debut for the Washington Wizards. Young, who was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in January, stepped onto the court from the bench during an altercation between Wizards rookie Jamir Watkins and Rockets forward Tari Eason, leading to his automatic dismissal. The incident happened in the third quarter of the game. Young has been sidelined with a right knee MCL sprain and a quad contusion and has yet to play a minute for Washington. His debut is anticipated later this week. In a social media post following his ejection, Young wrote, "Don't expect me to get ejected too many more times D.C., but I'm definitely bringing that energy & competitiveness when I'm back for my brothers!" The Rockets' victory improved their record to 38-22, keeping them in third place in the Western Conference standings. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 32 points, while Kevin Durant added 30. The Wizards, on the other hand, have struggled, posting a 3-7 record in their last 10 games. In Boston, the Celtics have been performing well despite the absence of Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from a torn Achilles. The team holds a 41-20 record and is second in the Eastern Conference. Tatum's return is anticipated soon, which could provide a significant boost for the team heading into the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets secured a narrow 128-125 victory over the Utah Jazz, thanks to a 45-point performance from Jamal Murray. The win improved Denver's record to 38-24. The Jazz, who have lost six straight games, fell to 18-43.
