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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Home’s where the heart is for Wiz, Celtics as Game 6 arrives

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, right, and Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris wrestle for a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 123-101. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, right, and Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris wrestle for a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 123-101. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, right, and Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris wrestle for a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. The Celtics defeated the Wizards 123-101. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

WASHINGTON (AP) – Isaiah Thomas’ Boston Celtics and John Wall’s Washington Wizards have built something of a rivalry this season, going back and forth, trading wins on the court and barbs off it, from the “Funeral Game” in January to the lost tooth and ejection of their current playoff series.

One thing every matchup had in common so far as Washington prepares to host Boston in Game 6 on Friday night? The home team wins.

Always.

9 for 9.

So the Celtics, leading their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal 3-2, might be feeling pretty good about where things stand at the moment. Because even if they can’t close things out Friday, they’ll get to host Game 7 on Monday, an advantage they earned by finishing with the No. 1 seed.