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The Boston Celtics secured a 123-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, propelled by a barrage of 22 three-pointers that offset a significant disadvantage at the free throw line. Boston shot 49 times from deep, connecting on 22, while Philadelphia managed just 11 makes on 37 attempts. The 33-point margin from beyond the arc proved decisive, especially considering the 76ers attempted 28 free throws to Boston's five, making 24.
Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 11 points in the first quarter that helped Boston build an early seven-point lead. Paul George led all scorers with 36 points for Philadelphia, shooting 14-of-22 from the field and 6-of-11 from three, but 14 of his points came after the game was tied at 79 and Boston had already begun to pull away.
The turning point came in the third quarter when the 76ers erased an 11-point halftime deficit with a run to tie the game at 79 with about four minutes remaining. However, Boston responded with a flurry of three-pointers, including a 17-0 run to open the fourth quarter, to blow the game open. The Celtics outscored Philadelphia 44-22 after the tie.
Payton Pritchard was instrumental in the decisive surge, hitting the first of four straight threes to end the third quarter and then the first two threes of the fourth. Pritchard scored nine points during a 21-3 run after the tie. George hit his first of three triples during that stretch, prompting a Philadelphia timeout, but the damage was done.
Jaylen Brown struggled for the 76ers, scoring just 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting and committing four turnovers. He was a game-worst minus-27. Boston's defense effectively neutralized Brown by using his aggression against him, often placing him in the corner and forcing him to defend without help. Brown also found himself in foul trouble early, limiting his impact.
Boston's ball movement was crisp, with 28 assists on 44 made field goals. The Celtics entered the game seventh in the NBA in assists per game and have shown little stagnation this season under coach Joe Mazzulla. Tatum also delivered a highlight-reel play, dunking over LeBron James in the first half, which provided an emotional spark for Boston.
For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe were underutilized in an offense that continues to sputter. Joel Embiid drew fouls and got to the line frequently, keeping the 76ers within striking distance for a while, but his overall mobility appeared limited. Mitchell Robinson, still working his way into shape, looked out of condition and struggled defensively during Philadelphia's third-quarter comeback.
Key Analysis
The Celtics' game plan focused on protecting the rim and avoiding foul trouble, with mixed results. Philadelphia took 37% of its shots at the rim and shot 62.5% there, but Boston's discipline in fouls was evident: only Derrick White reached four fouls, and no one else had more than three. The strategy to weaponize Jaylen Brown worked to perfection, as Brown was a non-factor and turned the ball over four times, leading to 21 Boston points off 14 Philadelphia turnovers.
Boston's three-point shooting overwhelmed Philadelphia's free throw advantage, and the Celtics' depth shone through with four players (George, Tatum, Pritchard, and Sam Hauser) making at least four threes. The win improves Boston's record and extends Philadelphia's struggles, raising questions about the 76ers' offensive cohesion and conditioning.