Since giving up 111 points in a loss to the Wizards on Christmas Day, the Celtics have clamped down on D. They’ve won five in a row including three wins against the Rockets, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves, three out of the top-5 offenses in the league. During that stretch, they’ve boasted a stingy 94.3 DefRtg and outrebounded the opposing team in 4 out of 5 games (they gave up an abysmal 19 offensive rebounds to the Hornets and still won).
Last night, Karl Anthony-Towns put together a hefty fantasy line of 25 points and 23 rebounds, but the Celtics are happy giving up big games to big men.