After an improbable fourth-quarter run sparked by Boston’s defense and Jason Tatum’s kick, the Boston Celtics extended the series to Game 7, defeating the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers 95-86. The Celtics were led by Marcus Smart who led all Boston scorers with 22 points to go with 7 assists and 7 rebounds, while Robert Williams delivered a big punch after being inserted into the starting lineup. Joel Embiid and Therese Maxie each put up 26 for the Sixers.
The Celtics came out firing on all cylinders, opening up a 13-3 lead right away. The defense was flimsy, and as it had been all year, the Celtics lived (!) by the three. Unfortunately, unlike previous games against the Sixers, Philadelphia didn’t once beat themselves. To their credit, they’ve been really strong throughout the long series, and that’s what kept Boston’s first half lead from swelling.
Unfortunately, the other thing that kept that from happening was Jason Tatum putting an offensive donut: one point on 0-10 shooting. His only point in the first half came on a technical throw after a foul. Fortunately, Malcolm Brogdon brought the missing goals off the bench, scoring 13 points in just the first half.
The real star of the show in the first half was Marcus Smart. After the loss in Game 5, Smart explained in graphic terms how the team needed to fight tonight. A role model, Smart was the first to drop the ball several times tonight (as usual), and he augmented that with a surprising burst of scoring.
Joe Mazzola stuck with just the top seven players tonight, choosing not to expand opportunities for players like Grant Williams, Sam Houser and Payton Pritchard. This proved to be the right move, as nearly all of the Celtics’ players stood out (although Al Horford and Jason Tatum struggled from the field), particularly defensively.
The Celtics likely hoped Tatum would kick it off in the third quarter, but it just didn’t happen. After a strong start, the Celtics completely fell apart on both ends. Suddenly, a cap appeared on the paint. When they were actually able to get a shot, it was hit or the ball didn’t go down. Other times, just as in last year’s Finals, the Sixers would force turnover after turnover of drives. Robert Williams and Marcus Smart were catalysts for everything good that happened, but there’s only so much they can influence.
Jaylen Brown (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) helped by being aggressive regardless of results. Down by five points, the Celtics helped push Boston to keep it from getting out of hand.
The Celtics started in the fourth, but quickly regained their confidence when Jason Tatum reached the line for the free run. Boston’s defense took over from there. Unlike in the first two quarters, the Celtics looked straight to the rim and nowhere else. While things were a bit stagnant on both teams, Boston didn’t fall behind.
With just over seven minutes left in the game, Jaylen Brown came back to log.
A bunch of things happened (sorry, I’m still trying to process everything). The point is, Tatum hit back-to-back three-pointers, and suddenly you forgot he was 1-14 with 4 turnovers before the shots fell. After a hard bucket from Smart, the umpires called a terrible (I mean terrible) foul on Horford who was tipped over after Mazzola used his coach’s challenge. Another Tatum dagger of the three put the Celtics in relief with 90 seconds left in the game.
Tatum (19 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) An All-NBA First Team recall would get all the attention, but Boston’s defense left Philly starving in the desert, holding Philly to just 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics held James Harden to 13 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Besides Harden, Maxi and Embiid, Seksir did not score any more goals in the double figures.
The Celtics and Sixers are tied at 3-3 and battle it out in Game 7 in Boston on Sunday. Winning or going home in the second round for the second year in a row. Grant Williams, is this your music?