Following an unbelievable fourth quarter run sparked by Boston’s protection and Jayson Tatum’s shot-making, the Boston Celtics prolonged this collection to a Recreation 7, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 95-86. Main the Celtics was Marcus Good who led all Boston scorers with 22 factors to go along with 7 assists and seven rebounds, whereas Robert Williams gave a big punch after being inserted into the beginning lineup. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each put up 26 for the Sixers.
The Celtics got here out firing on all cylinders, opening up a 13-3 lead immediately. The protection was crisp, and as has been the case all 12 months, the Celtics lived (!) by the three. Sadly, not like in earlier matchups towards the Sixers, Philadelphia hasn’t been beating themselves for as soon as. To their credit score, they’ve been actually strong all collection lengthy, and that’s what prevented the primary half lead for Boston from ballooning.
Sadly, the opposite factor stopping that from occurring was Jayson Tatum placing up an offensive bagel: 1 level on 0-10 capturing. His solely first-half level got here on a technical freethrow following a take foul. Malcolm Brogdon fortunately introduced the lacking scoring off the bench, tossing in 13 factors in simply the primary half.
The true star of the present within the first half was Marcus Good. Following the intestine punch of a loss in Recreation 5, Good defined in graphic phrases how the crew wanted to struggle tonight. Main by instance, Good was the primary to the ground and the ball a number of instances tonight (per ordinary), and he augmented that with a shocking burst of scoring.
Joe Mazzulla caught with simply his seven finest gamers tonight, opting to not broaden alternatives to gamers like Grant Williams, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard. This proved to be the correct transfer, as virtually the entire Celtics’ high gamers had been sharp (regardless of Al Horford and Jayson Tatum struggling from the sphere), particularly defensively.
The Celtics had been in all probability hoping that Tatum would get it going within the third quarter, however that didn’t occur. After a strong begin, the Celtics fully fell aside on each ends. All of a sudden, the paint had a lid on it. Once they had been really capable of get a shot up, it was getting swatted or the layups weren’t dropping. The opposite instances, identical to in final 12 months’s Finals, the Sixers had been forcing turnover after turnover on drives. Robert Williams and Marcus Good had been the catalysts of every little thing good that occurred, however there’s solely a lot they may influence.
Jaylen Brown (17 factors, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) helped by being aggressive whatever the outcomes. After the Celtics fell down by 5 factors, he helped push Boston to forestall it from getting out of hand.
The Celtics began the fourth down two, however they rapidly regained their confidence as Jayson Tatum received to the freethrow line. Boston’s protection took over from there. In contrast to within the first couple of quarters, the Celtics appeared proper on the rim and nowhere else. Whereas issues stagnated somewhat from each groups, Boston didn’t fall behind.
With somewhat over seven minutes left within the recreation, Jaylen Brown checked again in.
A bunch of stuff occurred (sorry, nonetheless attempting to course of all of it). The purpose is, Tatum hit back-to-back three-pointers, and instantly, I forgot that he was 1-14 with 4 turnovers earlier than the photographs went down. After a tricky bucket from Good, the referees referred to as a horrible (I imply TERRIBLE) foul on Horford that was overturned after Mazzulla used his coach’s problem. Yet one more Tatum dagger from three put the Celtics in comfy place with 90 seconds left.
Tatum (19 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) remembering that he’s All-NBA First Group will get all the eye, however Boston’s protection left Philly parched within the desert, holding Philly to only 13 factors within the fourth quarter.
The Celtics held James Harden to 13 factors, 9 assists and seven rebounds. In addition to Harden, Maxey and Embiid, no different Sixer scored in double figures.
The Celtics and Sixers are tied at 3-3 and can sq. off for Recreation 7 in Boston on Sunday. Win or go dwelling within the second spherical for the second 12 months in a row. Grant Williams, is that your music?