PHILADELPHIA — The Celtics anticipated a rowdy setting Friday evening at Wells Fargo Center. Marcus Smart anticipated the ambiance to be “crazy and chaotic.” They obtained it, as Joel Embiid accepted his MVP trophy, electrifying a juiced-up crowd.
With this second-round sequence tied, and with greater than 4 many years of historical past since Philadelphia edged Boston within the playoffs in its storied rivalry, the Celtics knew they’d get a fantastic punch from the 76ers.
But they’d an even bigger punch, and got here up with the larger photographs to retake management of this sequence.
After making a press release of their Game 2 victory, there was no letdown from the Celtics in Game 3. They spoiled Embiid’s evening. They continued to fluster James Harden and the 76ers. They thrived in a hostile setting. Philadelphia’s punch wasn’t ok and the Celtics pulled away for a 114-102 victory.
“They’ve been here before,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “And so I feel simply embracing it, sticking collectively. I believed the fellows stayed – you already know, after they talk in timeouts, the way in which they convey to one another after timeouts, the way in which they convey to one another through the sport is an important. So these guys have a togetherness and a connectivity. And I feel that’s how it’s a must to get via it. You’ve gotta handle your expectations. You’ve gotta know what you’re up in opposition to.
“And so it’s not going to go your way, as you guys said. And so, understanding that and then just building an awareness to when it’s not how quickly can we get it back? But it’s them. They communicate.They stick together.And they execute.”
The Celtics took a 2-1 sequence lead, and took again home-court benefit within the course of. Jayson Tatum scored 27 factors and Jaylen Brown shook off a sluggish begin for 23. All Horford had 17 and Malcolm Brogdon had 15, every hitting massive 3-pointers that helped seal this victory.
Embiid scored 30 factors with 13 rebounds and 4 blocks however appeared to fade late, and Harden had one other unhealthy efficiency. Despite that, although, the Sixers discovered themselves hanging round. But the Celtics had each reply down the stretch, whether or not it was massive offensive rebounds or hitting big 3-pointers.
The Celtics led by as many as 13 early within the fourth quarter however the Sixers stored coming and threatening. Two massive photographs characterised Boston’s response and this win.
The 76ers lower it to 5 with 5:45 left with De’Anthony Melton’s 3-pointer. But 17 seconds later, Brogdon drilled a 3 to revive the result in eight.
Then, Philadelphia narrowed the Celtics’ result in 4 on an Embiid tip-in with 3:51 left, which ignited Philadelphia’s hungry crowd. But on the subsequent possession, Brogdon corralled a Grant Williams miss and located Horford, who calmly sank his fifth 3-pointer of the sport. The Sixers had one final gasp when Harden hit a 3 to make it 105-99 with 2:05 left, however Tatum responded with a step-back 3-pointer.
Other takeaways from the win:
– Embiid’s MVP trophy presentation was as electrical as anticipated and even obtained emotional. As the 76ers star gave a speech to the sellout Philadelphia crowd, his 2-year-old son Arthur got here working out and into Embiid’s arms. The massive man was choked up as his followers ate up each phrase of his speech. Somehow, he was purported to play a pivotal playoff sport proper after.
The feelings might have had an impact on the 76ers as they began sluggish, and the Celtics took full benefit. Their offense was flawless within the opening minutes as they hit their first 5 photographs and took an early 14-4 lead.
Tatum, who scored simply seven factors in 19 minutes within the Celtics’ Game 2 win, scored 10 factors Friday evening earlier than the sport was even 4 minutes outdated. But he struggled to keep up that as he scored simply three factors the remainder of the half and missed 5 consecutive 3-pointers.
– Grant Williams picked up an help that didn’t present up within the field rating. After De’Anthony Melton took and missed a half-court heave at first-quarter buzzer, he kicked the ball within the stands. Williams – who picked up a technical foul and promptly ejected for the same motion earlier this season in opposition to the Warriors – noticed it and was fast to run over to an official to level it out to him. Melton was assessed a technical and the Celtics tied the sport at 29 following Tatum’s free throw.
– Smart wasn’t shy in expressing how a lot he loves dealing with hostile highway crowds on Friday morning at shootaround.
“I embrace it,” the purpose guard stated. “I think I play better when I’m a villain and guys are talking a lot of trash to me. So we’ll see how it goes.”
The 76ers crowd, virtually expectedly, obtained sick of him fairly rapidly. Yet once more, Smart was in all places defensively, being a pest. He took a cost, he dove for unfastened balls and he drew an offensive foul on Embiid – possibly exaggerating the contact – when he obtained an elbow to the chin. He heard it from the 76ers crowd but it surely solely appeared to gasoline him and the hustle performs that the Celtics have been making frequently. On one sequence within the first half, he stole a go within the backcourt, then drilled a second-chance 3-pointer within the nook, the place it regarded like he rotated and stated one thing to a fan after draining the shot.
– Remember when Harden erupted for 45 factors and a turn-back-the-clock efficiency? It was solely on Monday, however appeared like for much longer in the past. For a second consecutive sport, the Celtics pissed off Harden. He completed 3-for-14 from the sector for simply 16 factors and dedicated 5 turnovers in one other disastrous efficiency when the Sixers wanted him.
Source: www.bostonherald.com