Washington DC - The Washington Wizards needed some extra effort to come away with a hard-earned win at home against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.

The Wizards beat the Celtics 115-112 in a double-overtime game for their third win in a row and Boston’s second loss in two nights against Washington.

This game was the definition of a close contest, with both teams enjoying only a single-digit lead at most during the night.

The Celtics stayed toe-to-toe with the Wizards through the first half, as Washington went into halftime with a 53-47 lead.

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That comparatively big difference didn't last long, as Boston kept things close and did just enough in the final minutes of regulation to force not one, but two overtimes.

The Wizards tightened up their defense late in the second overtime to hold the Celtics to nine points as they finally grabbed the lead back and managed to hold it as time expired.

After Russell Westbrook, half of last year’s one-two punch combo, left for the Lakers, shooting guard Bradley Beal (28) took Washington’s top spot, shining once again in this game.

The three-time NBA All-Star had his hands full, having to duel with one of Boston’s scoring machines, Jaylen Brown. In the end, Brown got outscored even with the benefit of extra time.

To help Washington come away with the win, Beal scored eight of his team’s 12 total overtime points and assisted on the final bucket that put them up for good in the game’s final seconds.

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He finished the game shooting 12-for-32, with 36 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

The Wizards now sit among the top teams in the Eastern Conference after Saturday's efforts.

They’ve already handled the Hawks once this season and have a couple more games ahead that look very winnable, which would push them higher above the rest of the competition.

Surviving a double-overtime game early in the season also shows there's some serious grit about this group, so Washington is definitely a team to keep your eye on this season.

On Monday, the Wizards are in Atlanta to take on the Hawks, while the Celtics are back at home to play the Bulls.