The Celtics used an 18-3 run to shut out the third quarter and seize management of Saturday’s marquee matchup towards the 76ers. They’re offense continued to hum within the 4th quarter, however the Sixers fought again, and Jayson Tatum wanted a buzzer-beating step-back three to present Boston the 110-107 victory.
Previous to the third quarter scoring flurry, Joel Embiid used his dimension to dominate the smaller Celtics bigs. I think about head coach Doc Rivers emphasised to Embiid that he ought to impose his will on Boston’s entrance line, and for two-and-a-half quarters, it labored.
Right here, he bull-rushes Horford on the block then finishes over three defenders:
Horford was most frequently Embiid’s main defender, however head coach Joe Mazzulla blended up the coverages all evening, typically doubling him after the primary dribble, different occasions digging with the perimeter defenders. Often, a wing was the primary man to choose him up they usually’d ship a strong-side double, however it often resulted in an open shot.
With 4:31 remaining within the third, Embiid had Derrick White defending him on the elbow, and he simply overpowered him for a one-dribble layup. At that time, he had 25 factors on 8-of-13 taking pictures, and Philadelphia took a 75-62 lead. That’s exactly when the Celtics flipped the sport.
It began accidentally. James Harden clanked a pullup three that may have definitely (probably) prompted Mazzulla timeout if it went in. As a substitute, Tatum grabbed the board and handed it forward to Horford alone on the correct wing, who hit the shot earlier than PJ Tucker may get a correct contest:
Horford was 0-for-4 up till that time. Tucker defended him a lot of the recreation so Embiid may keep within the paint. Embiid opted towards choosing him up in transition and Horford took benefit. On the following play, Horford linked on the uncommon off-the-dribble transition three:
As soon as once more, the Celtics attacked early within the clock. Tucker picks up Robert Williams within the cross match, Embiid is late to step up on Horford, and he hits a second straight three. It looks as if the Sixers effort degree is low, and that’s possible as a result of there’s 3:30 remaining within the third quarter and Doc Rivers hasn’t despatched in any subs. Often, fatigue reveals with a workforce’s transition protection. The Celtics seen the waning effort and instantly pounced.
Doc known as a timeout to halt a possible run, however it didn’t matter. Embiid missed a baseline turnaround jumper, the Celtics attacked early within the clock, then Malcolm Brogdon drove and located Horford for an additional three:
It was 9-0 private run from Horford. Brogdon then obtained by De’Anthony Melton, who’s often a stout defender, however Brogdon’s recent legs gained right here. Embiid is as soon as once more caught on Horford and may’t get out to the perimeter.
On this subsequent play, Brogdon was as soon as once more in a position to drive by Melton. Embiid can’t come all the best way over to guard the rim as a result of he’s anxious about Horford’s taking pictures:
The Sixers are numerous issues: huge, skilled, expert, and deep. However no person would ever describe them as quick. Exterior of Tyrese Maxey, they’ve obtained a roster filled with sluggish guys at each place, and the Celtics used their velocity benefit to blitz them within the third quarter. Horford would ultimately hit his fourth three in beneath 4 minutes, and the Celtics scored on seven straight possessions for an 18-3 run, taking an 80-78 lead going into the 4th quarter.
Boston continued its transition assault within the closing body. Right here, Brogdon will get the steal, pushes the tempo, and the scrambling Sixers can’t get to White, who drains the nook three:
The Celtics had been taking turns beating the Sixers up the ground and getting fastbreak dunks:
The Celtics went up 97-87 with 6:31 to play, however the Sixers got here storming again. Harden repeatedly discovered Embiid for elbow jumpers on the pick-and-roll, and Maxey was Philly’s one-man fastbreak. His finger roll over Tatum with 1:58 remaining gave them a 1-point lead, however who else however Horford got here proper again and rattled residence a left wing three.
We all know Tatum’s heroics propelled Boston to a three-point victory, and if his step-back over Jalen McDaniels was a bit faster, possibly Embiid’s full-court heave would have counted and we might have seen one of many nice buzzer beaters in NBA historical past.
As a substitute, the Celtics picked up an enormous win over their division rival on the highway. The Sixers have performed dominant basketball for the reason that begin of the calendar 12 months and had gained 14 out of their earlier 17. A win over the Celtics in a Saturday evening nationally televised recreation would have prompted a Monday morning filled with ESPN segments like “Are the Sixers Legit Title Contenders?” As a substitute, Boston turned on the jets and gutted out an essential victory over a workforce we’d see within the playoffs.
