Editing Boston Celtics (section)

===Washington Wizards===
One of the most recent and unexpected rivalries that has been created between the Celtics is with the [[Washington Wizards]]. Although both teams had engaged in a fight in [[1984 NBA playoffs|1984]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.celticslife.com/2017/04/the-last-time-celtics-played-washington.html|title=The last time the Celtics played Washington in the playoffs was 33 years ago (and it ended in a brawl)|date=April 30, 2017|access-date=August 2, 2018|archive-date=August 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802071628/http://www.celticslife.com/2017/04/the-last-time-celtics-played-washington.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the rivalry intensified during the 2015–16 season in a January regular season game after [[Jae Crowder]] was given a technical foul. Crowder then began to exchange words with then Wizards coach [[Randy Wittman]]. It began to escalate that off-season when the Celtics were trying to sign [[Al Horford]]. It was publicly reported that Jae Crowder emphasized that the Celtics beat the Wizards in all of their meetings that season and should sign with them rather than Washington. In their first meeting of the 2016–17 season, Wall hit [[Marcus Smart]] in the back-court when they were up by 20 late in the 4th quarter. Wall was hit with a Flagrant 2 foul and was promptly ejected. Smart immediately got back up and began to scuffle with Wall. Their words continued even after being separated with Wall telling Smart to meet him out back after the game. No incident was reported between the two following the game. In their next meeting, the Celtics won 117–108. However, after the game Wall and Crowder exchanged words in front of the Wizards bench. Crowder ended up trying to jab his finger at Wall's nose and Wall tried to fight back with a slap. Teammates and coaches from both sides had to step in and separate the two teams but the players continued to yell while entering their respective locker rooms. Police officers had to be on guard between the two locker rooms to ensure no further confrontation. [[Otto Porter]] is quoted as calling the Celtics as dirty. [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]] replied "If playing hard is dirty, then I guess we are a dirty team."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4725574/how-the-celtics-and-wizards-became-the-nbas-most-unexpected-rivalry|title=How Celtics-Wizards became the NBA's most unexpected rivalry|work=ESPN.com|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225914/http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4725574/how-the-celtics-and-wizards-became-the-nbas-most-unexpected-rivalry|url-status=live}}</ref>

In their next game in January, the Wizards wore all black to enter the game. The notion was that it is similar to the attire of a funeral. Their decision worked as they defeated the Celtics 123–108. The two teams would go on to meet in the Conference Semifinals in the 2017 Playoffs. In Game 1, [[Markieff Morris]] landed on Horford's ankle after shooting a jumpshot. Morris sprained his ankle and had to miss the rest of the game which was a 123–111 loss. Morris believed that Horford did this intentionally. In Game 2, Morris retaliated by grabbing Horford by the waist and pushed him into the seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2017/12/22/things-change-but-nba-hopes-wizards-celtics-rivalry-still-brings-christmas-magic/|title=Things change, but NBA hopes Wizards-Celtics rivalry still brings Christmas magic|last=Buckner|first=Candace|date=December 24, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 2, 2018|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402225807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2017/12/22/things-change-but-nba-hopes-wizards-celtics-rivalry-still-brings-christmas-magic/|url-status=live}}</ref> In Game 3, [[Kelly Olynyk]] set a hard screen on [[Kelly Oubre Jr.|Kelly Oubre]]. Olynyk's shoulder hit Oubre in the chin causing him to drop to the floor. Oubre angrily rose and pushed Olynyk down onto the floor. Oubre was then assessed a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected while also being suspended for Game 4.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://andscape.com/features/kelly-oubre-jr-vs-kelly-olynyk/|title=Kelly Oubre Jr. vs. Kelly Olynyk: In the battle of the Kellys, Twitter stood by Oubre Jr.|last=Dodson|first=Aaron|date=May 5, 2017|work=[[Andscape]]|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-date=August 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809204338/https://andscape.com/features/kelly-oubre-jr-vs-kelly-olynyk/|url-status=live}}</ref> No significant altercations erupted in the rest of the seven-game series in which the Celtics would go on to win. The rivalry has since dissipated as the Celtics have retooled their roster but their match-ups are still seen as significant as they played on Christmas in 2017.