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Winners of two consecutive video games and having restored dwelling court docket benefit for the sequence, the Boston Celtics entered Recreation 4 towards the Philadelphia 76ers with a chance to say command over the Jap Convention Semifinals. In a aggressive recreation from start-to-finish, although, the Celtics fell simply quick in time beyond regulation. They dropped a chance to take a 3-1 sequence lead, dropping 116-115, night the sequence 2-2 because it returns to Boston for Recreation 5.
The Celtics rode a balanced offensive assault, with six gamers scoring in double-digits, together with 20+ level nights from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Sensible. For the Sixers, James Harden posted one other masterclass — together with the game-winner — with 42 factors, and Joel Embiid appeared energetic with 34 factors of his personal.
With management of the sequence slipping out of their fingers, it was apparent that the Sixers have been going to return into this recreation with renewed power. That expectation bore out within the first quarter. Philadelphia began quick, and although Brown matched their early effort with 12 first quarter factors, the Sixers have been capable of compile, extremely, their largest lead of the whole sequence with an 8-point benefit. Embiid was in a rhythm and the Celtics gave the impression to be on their heels, at one level lacking 13 of 14 shot makes an attempt. The Celtics trailed 27-19 after the opening quarter.
The second quarter belonged to the pariah of the earlier two video games: James Harden. After managing simply 5 made baskets in Video games 2 and three, Harden nailed eight buckets within the first half alone, scoring 21 factors. His resurgence was sadly timed towards Tatum’s worst half of basketball this postseason; the Celtics’ finest participant didn’t report a made subject objective till the ultimate minute of the primary half, beginning 1-for-9 from the sector. The Celtics struggled by way of greater than 4 minutes of scoreless basketball, however after a Horford three to finish the half, remarkably entered the halfway level trailing by simply 9, 59-50, regardless of Philadelphia’s obvious dominance.
Tatum discovered one thing of a rhythm within the third quarter, hitting his first 4 photographs. Embiid and Harden proceed to get theirs, nonetheless, and the Celtics didn’t make any significant inroads in direction of reclaiming the lead. Each groups cracked 30 factors within the quarter, however each scored 33, leaving the Celtics in the identical place they’d on the half, trailing by 9. They trailed the Sixers 92-83 getting into the ultimate body.
After a couple of minutes of scuffling from each groups, the Celtics opened the scoring within the fourth quarter with a Derrick White fastbreak layup with just below 10 minutes remaining in regulation, prompting a Doc Rivers timeout. A Sensible three-pointer lower the Sixers’ lead inside 5 factors with just below seven minutes to play, and it appeared to open the floodgates — lastly! — for the Celtics’ offense. A 3 from Brown and a fastbreak layup from Tatum tied the sport up in startling style, 96-all with 5:25 remaining in regulation.
Popping out of the Philadelphia timeout, the 2 groups endured a pair minutes of bodily, scoreless basketball. Because the clock ticked beneath 4 minutes to play, Sensible discovered Horford beneath the basket for a layup that put the Celtics forward for the primary time for the reason that first quarter. Harden shortly drew the Sixers even, drawing a foul and hitting each free throws to reset the sport at 98-98 with 3:38 to play.
Sensible’s exceptional resurgence within the sequence continued tonight. He hit 4 threes and scored 21 factors on the afternoon, and none have been extra vital than his triple with just below three minutes remaining in regulation. Harden hit a midrange pull-up jumper, but it surely was sandwiched b1y Sensible’s three and one other from Brogdon, and the Celtics pulled forward by 5 with two minutes to play.
The Sixers weren’t completed but. After a number of traded buckets, PJ Tucker grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul on the following layup, changing a three-point play to attract the Sixers even at 105 apiece with 1:06 remaining on the clock. Sensible made a pair of free throws on the opposite finish to revive a two-point Boston lead, and Horford blocked an Embiid layup try, however the Sixers retained possession and a Harden floater would ship the sport to time beyond regulation after Sensible’s open three-point try missed paydirt.
Additional time started with Maxey and Tatum buying and selling buckets early, earlier than Sensible bullied his solution to an and-one layup to grant the Celtics a three-point lead. Embiid hit a midrange bucket to drag inside one level moments after, however drew an offensive foul towards Sensible on a subsequent possession that was instantly challenged by Rivers. The problem was dominated unsuccessful, and the Celtics got the ball with 1:49 remaining in time beyond regulation.
On a missed three from Harden with simply over a minute to play, Horford drew a whistle for a unfastened ball foul. Embiid drove to the basket on the following possession and drew the whistle, placing himself on the line and placing the Sixers forward with a pair of free throws. The Celtics held off on taking a timeout on the following possession, and Tatum drilled a pull-up three towards Maxey to place the Celtics forward 115-113 with 38 seconds remaining, prompting a Sixers timeout. Popping out of the stoppage, Harden hit a nook three to place the Sixers forward by one, and Sensible’s three-pointer on the ultimate possession got here far too late, solidifying a Philadelphia win.
Subsequent up, the 2 groups will head again to the TD Backyard in Boston for Recreation 5, this Tuesday at 7:30 PM EST on TNT.
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