It wasn’t pretty, but the Boston Celtics defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers Friday night, grabbing a 125-119 victory despite rough outings from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Instead, led by Al Horford, Boston’s role players buckled down and dug out a win. The Celtics now move to 9-0 at home for the year.
Philadelphia was without both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And even if Boston was also missing Kristaps Porzingis, taking care of the short-handed 76ers should have been a straightforward task for the Celtics. Instead, silly giveaways and inconsistent play from the home team kept things close well into the final moments of the game. Horford, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday helped steady the ship, however, allowing Boston to squeeze out a victory. Even with 20 turnovers on the night, the Celtics managed a win.
Here’s what you may have missed from Boston’s clunky 125-119 win against Philadelphia Friday night.
PHOTOS – Boston vs. Philadelphia: Celtics survive Hospital 76ers, Tatum ejection to win 125-119 https://t.co/5yUCPXdhCu pic.twitter.com/5AQq4gP2K4
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 2, 2023
Boston's offense
Boston’s lax approach to the game was noticeable from the jump. While the Celtics shot a blistering 8-for-11 on 3-pointers in the first quarter, they also coughed up 7 turnovers in the period. Boston had a chance to take care of business early and instead left the door wide open for the Sixers.
To make matters worse, Boston’s star players had rough outings. Jayson Tatum logged 6 turnovers and was eventually tossed from the game in the third quarter after arguing with the refs earned him a second technical. Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, fared a bit better and shot 8-for-20 from the field. He Also did register four steals, but at times slowed Boston’s offense down, taking 9 more field goals than any other Celtic.
Boston scored 44 points in that first quarter, but lacked the focus and consistency to keep Philadelphia at bay. From there, the Celtics sputtered as the Sixers maintained, and the home team flirted with an ugly loss.
Horford in particular deserves kudos for avoiding such a fate. He finished the game with 20 points and 6 rebounds, and his defense and playmaking were critical for Boston. White contributed 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and also served an important role in giving the Celtics stability and scoring down the stretch.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla gives Porzingis injury update ahead of in-season tournament quarterfinals https://t.co/4pzjk9UShl pic.twitter.com/OsxzPE1GJX
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 2, 2023
Boston's defense
Boston’s defense lacked punch, especially at the rim. Philadelphia attacked the painted area consistently, meeting little or ineffective resistance for most of the game. For the game, the Sixers logged 50 points in the paint and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds. Philly also shot 45.7% from 3, further compounding the challenge for the Celtics.
The fourth quarter was a bit of a different story. Philly was still allowed a few easy baskets. But Boston’s effort at the rim was noticeably more consistent and effective. The Sixers managed just 22 points in the final frame, a credit to the guys in green. This renewed defensive effort down the stretch was the key.
David Ortiz to Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum: 'You're my dog' https://t.co/PTpvAkMAyl pic.twitter.com/bcvkXhviFp
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) December 2, 2023
Final thoughts
Boston moves to 15-4 on the season with the result, with one more tango with Philadelphia later this season. The Celtics are set to host the Sixers on Feb 27.
For now, the Celtics will now turn their attention to the NBA in-season tournament, and are headed for a quarterfinal match against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. If Boston wins, they’ll move on to the semifinal round of the tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Celtics Lab 229: Assessing the East at the 2023-24 NBA season's quarter-mark with Ky Carlin https://t.co/GhCtpFeorG pic.twitter.com/lUkQPBlOCG
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) November 29, 2023
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