The Boston Celtics blew a lead against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, as they went on to lose 106-103. The loss at Wells Fargo Center was their second of the season. Philadelphia’s reigning MVP Joel Embiid had a monster night, putting up 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the 76ers to the win. It was also a good night for sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who had 25 points (including 11 in the fourth quarter), 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Alternatively, Boston’s stars struggled - with Jayson Tatum (16 points) and Jaylen Brown (11 points) - as they were unable to find any offensive flow.
Philly started the game brightly, quickly jumping out to a 6-0 lead, before the Celtics responded and took themselves into a lead in the first quarter. The Celtics’ big man Kristaps Porzingis took over the early exchanges, eventually putting up 29 points and 6 rebounds in the game, as he found some joy against Embiid. The Boston defence also picked up, as Jrue Holiday guarded Embiid on the perimeter forcing multiple turnovers (Embiid had 6 in the game).
The Celtics took a 5-point lead into the second quarter, which was rapidly extended to 11, as Tatum marshalled the bench unit. Unfortunately, the Celtics’ biggest issue from the opening couple of matches returned, with Boston giving up multiple offensive rebounds (12 in the game) which led to 19 second chance points. This resulted in the Sixers battling back, with a 22-5 run to regain the lead. The Celtics were not able to find any shooting consistency, putting up just 15 threes on 31.9% shooting from behind the arc.
The third quarter only showed more of the same for Boston, as Philadelphia outscored them 20-17 to further extend their lead. Boston couldn’t win the battle in the paint for the first time this season, being outscored 56-40, as Embiid’s rim protection showed its effects on the Celtics’ offence. Boston’s star players – aside from Porzingis – couldn’t get a grasp of the game. Brown only managed 11 points on 4/13 shooting from the field, as well as Tatum who only managed 16 points and attempted just 16 shots in the game.
By the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Sixers had amassed a 12-point lead, mainly through Embiid’s 13 third quarter points. They continued to maintain this lead throughout most of the final period, until 1:58 left in the game when Jaylen Brown finally connected with a 3-pointer. And when both Porzingis and Derrick White connected on consecutive trips down the floor, the Philadelphia lead was cut to just six with 1:09 still to play. Tatum then cut the lead to four, before Embiid answered straight back with a delightful fade-away jumper. But then, following a second Brown 3, the Celtics took a timeout needing just one shot to tie the game. Kristaps Porzingis was the one to take it, as he wriggled free from his defensive coverage, but he left his shot short resulting in a 76ers victory.
Following the game, Head Coach Joe Mazzulla had this to say via ESPN: “Any time you’re playing against a great team, like Maxey and Embiid, if you’re down 10, you’re really down 15 to 18 because of their ability to make shots”. This loss moves the Boston Celtics’ record to 5-2 on the season. Boston will kick-start their in-season tournament campaign on Friday night, at home versus the Brooklyn Nets, looking to become the tournament’s first victors.
By Will C
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