With an ugly Game 1 loss lingering over their heads, the Boston Celtics returned to type on Wednesday night time, overpowering the Philadelphia 76ers en path to a 121-87 Recreation 2 win. Jaylen Brown led the cost, asserting himself on each ends because the Celtics spoiled Joel Embiid’s much-anticipated return following his MVP coronation.
From the leap, the Celtics put an emphasis on the defensive finish. Brown drew the James Harden task and made it his mission to pester the 76ers star, who put up 45 factors in Recreation 1. Brown picked up Harden past half-court and refused to let him get comfy.
Brown wasn’t the one nuisance, although, as each groups determined to ramp up their defensive strain. In Recreation 1, there have been solely two free throws tried within the first half. On the first timeout in Recreation 2 (6:48 remaining within the first), there had already been seven makes an attempt.
It was a whole 180-degrees from Recreation 1, through which each groups poured on factors. Protection remained the headline in Recreation 2, however this time round, it was for the best causes.
By the top of the primary, Boston’s offense started to discover a rhythm, whereas Philadelphia’s struggles persevered. A pair of Marcus Good miracle pictures helped propel the Celtics ahead.
In the meantime, Embiid made his presence identified. To the ground, a minimum of. Embiid recorded a pleasant bucket over Grant Williams however hit the hardwood extra instances than he had made area targets within the first.
The second quarter noticed Boston begin to construct momentum. Inside a few minutes, their lead ballooned to double digits because of their continued defensive strain and relentless offensive exercise.
Philadelphia wasn’t able to lie down, although. Embiid’s clumsy antics on offense don’t inform the entire story, as he was a dominant defensive presence on the opposite finish. By halftime, the large man had recorded 5 blocks and was seemingly on a mission to decelerate the Celtics.
Sadly for Embiid, basketball isn’t a one-man present, and the Celtics’ vitality was worlds higher than their Recreation 1 exhibiting.
Brown’s defensive play translated to offense, the place he was phenomenal, Malcolm Brogdon began to ramp up his play, and most significantly, Boston’s protection by no means slowed down.
However Good’s vitality deserves a boatload of credit score, too. His vigor on the defensive finish carried over on offense, the place he was ultra-aggressive.
By means of two quarters, the Celtics have been up 57-49 and had held the 76ers to 17-of-42 (40.5%) taking pictures general and 1-of-13 (7.7%) taking pictures from deep. Philadelphia’s defensive success prevented the lead from getting any worse, however Boston was seemingly in management.
The query was, might they stick with it? (Spoiler alert: Sure.)
To open the third, each side have been taking part in at a frenetic tempo. The vitality might be felt all through the world as each groups appeared unwilling to provide an inch.
So, the Celtics took that inch for themselves.
Led by Brown and their perseverant defensive strain, Boston’s lead crept up into the double digits once more. They have been scrapping for unfastened balls, sprinting round on offense, and forcing the 76ers to match their tempo.
With 5:27 remaining within the third, Derrick White drove the size of the courtroom after a cease and obtained a simple layup, inflating the Celtics’ result in 18 factors, their largest of the sport, and forcing Doc Rivers to name a timeout.
Instantly after, the Celtics appeared sluggish. Their apathetic play started to bleed by means of on offense as, for two-straight possessions, they performed across the perimeter.
However in a matter of seconds, they regained management.
Drive-and-kicks from Brown, paired with higher three-point taking pictures, helped them get again into the swing of issues. A steal by Brown on a 76ers inbound play solidified Boston’s management, forcing Rivers to name one other timeout and bringing the Celtics’ result in 23.
And after that pause, the Celtics confirmed off their elite taking pictures, swelling the result in almost 30 factors as TD Backyard erupted in cheers.
The third quarter closed with a 92-65 Celtics lead. In Recreation 1, the 76ers scored 63 factors within the first half and 87 by means of three. Recreation 2 was a totally completely different story.
The place did Jayson Tatum slot in amidst all of this? Within the background.
He solely tried seven pictures on the night time however didn’t have to do far more. Tatum’s drives generated attractiveness for his teammate, and regardless of his foul bother, he stayed energetic on the defensive finish. The famous person often is the head of the snake, however when Brown and Good are cooking like they have been, he doesn’t have to overdo it.
The ultimate body was merely a formality. Boston gained and maintained management within the first three intervals, and the fourth was no completely different. Embiid was on the bench to start out the quarter, and when the 76ers didn’t make a dent into the Celtics’ lead, that’s the place he stayed. Philadelphia emptied their bench early, and Joe Mazzulla adopted go well with shortly after.
Gino Time hit the large display screen with 2:28 left within the sport.
Brown’s 25-point night time led the way in which alongside Good’s 15 (with a wholesome vitality dose), whereas Brogdon chipped in with 22 factors on 6-of-10 taking pictures from distance.
After a brutal efficiency in Recreation 1, the Celtics held nothing again in Recreation 2, crushing the 76ers in Embiid’s return to the ground. The MVP was no match for Boston’s all-around dominance, and the collection is now tied at 1-1.
The Celtics will journey to Philadelphia for Recreation 3 on Friday, Could 5. Tip-off is ready for 7:30 p.m. Japanese time.
