The Celtics looked flat and lifeless against an undermanned 76ers squad. But then, like they turned a flip, the reigning champions came to life in the second half. The Celtics erased a 26-point second-half deficit, stunning the Sixers in a 118-110 win Sunday in Philadelphia. The C’s won their third straight game to get to 35-15 while the Sixers dropped to 19-29.
The Celtics started cold from deep while the Sixers were scorching, led by Tyrese Maxey’s 16 points in the first quarter. While the C’s had some runs throughout the first half, the 76ers just kept the pressure on. By halftime, the Celtics were down 17 points, their second-largest deficit of the season at the break.
It looked like it was going to be a long night for the Celtics as the Sixers just kept making shots. The C’s were down by 26 points midway through the third quarter. But their run started late in the frame, slimming the deficit down to 14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Then the Celtics exploded past the Sixers to take the lead, setting up another close finish. But it was all C’s in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sixers 38-16. It was a dominant effort in the final 15 minutes of game time in their largest comeback victory of the season.
The Sixers were again shorthanded, a constant this season as they were without Joel Embiid and Paul George, among others. On the flip side, the C’s didn’t have Payton Pritchard as he was out with an illness, snapping a streak of 151 straight games played.
Jayson Tatum was masterful on his way to 35 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Jaylen Brown added 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Derrick White had 17 points and nine assists. Maxey finished with 34 points, though he cooled after a hot start. Ex-Celtics forward Guerschon Yabusele added 21 points himself.
The Celtics have another tough test as they face the first-place Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Cleveland. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win over Philadelphia:
Furious comeback: The narratives could be written in real-time as the Celtics fell behind by 26 points in the third quarter. The C’s have had their issues facing shorthanded teams, which was again the case for the 76ers. But they broke through with a furious rally in the second half. Over the final 15 minutes of the game, the C’s went on a 54-20 run. Tatum was especially huge in the second half. The Sixers focused on stopping the C’s star, but the veteran kept making the consistent right reads. Tatum also finished with 10-plus assists in back-to-back games for the first time in his career as he had his fingerprints all over the win.
3-point fortune turns: While the Sixers rained 3s all night to build up their huge lead, it was the Celtics’ turn from deep in the second half. They shot 14-for-23 (60.9%) from beyond the arc in the second half, including multiple makes during their comeback run. White came up with some big makes, set up well by Tatum making solid reads. The Sixers finished 15-for-32 from deep themselves, though they made just one 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Potential trade piece: The Celtics have reportedly been interested in Yabusele as they got an up-close look at him Sunday. Yabusele is having a successful season back in the NBA after playing overseas as he was leaned on at center for the Sixers on Sunday. He finished with 21 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes, shooting 8-for-13 from the field. Yabusele was everywhere in the third quarter as he looked like the Olympics version of himself. It’ll be interesting to see what the Sixers do with Yabusele at the deadline. They’re in the middle of a lost season and Yabusele is set to become a free agent this summer. Those answers will come ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Prime test upcoming: The Celtics' process was far from perfect Sunday as they had to scrap their way to the win. But they won’t have that luxury Tuesday in Cleveland. The Cavs boast the best record in the league atop the East as it’ll be a marquee matchup. While the Celtics have struggled of late, they are on a three-game winning streak, executing in the clutch.
