PHILADELPHIA — For 44 minutes on Thursday evening, Jayson Tatum regarded misplaced.
The Celtics star appeared rattled. In one of many largest video games of his life, Tatum regarded like he was about to throw Boston’s season away. Literally. Turnovers mounted. He couldn’t purchase a bucket.
Until he may.
With the Celtics’ seismic championship expectations seemingly weighing on his shoulders, Tatum got here by when he was desperately wanted. He missed 13 of his first 14 photographs, however saved taking pictures. He willed the Celtics like he’s finished so many instances earlier than. He made 4 3-pointers within the closing 4 minutes. The Celtics dedicated 17 turnovers, they blew a 16-point lead. Their season regarded prefer it was crumbling.
But then Tatum saved their season, pushing them to a 95-86 victory in Game 6.
“We rely on him, man,” Malcolm Brogdon stated. “He’s our guy, through thick and thin. And he’s proven that he’s reliable in those moments. I don’t think there’s a doubt in anybody’s mind, it doesn’t matter how many shots he misses in the first three quarters, he’s gonna finish the game for us.”
There shall be a Game 7 on Sunday at TD Garden. Somehow, a way.
Trailing 83-81 with 4:15 to play, Tatum discovered life. He hit his first 3-pointer of the sport to present Boston the lead, then after Joel Embiid’s shot rimmed out, Tatum acquired Tyrese Maxey on a change, then drilled a step-back triple over him to present the C’s a four-point lead with 3:35 left, forcing a Sixers timeout.
Maxey made one in every of two free throws to chop Boston’s result in three earlier than Marcus Smart’s drive put the C’s up 5 with 2:38 left. On the following possession, Al Horford was whistled for a foul, however the Celtics challenged the decision and it was profitable. The Celtics then compelled a cease earlier than Tatum delivered a dagger 3-pointer to present them an eight-point with 1:53 left. He hit one other with 37.6 seconds left to formally seal it.
The Celtics led by as many as 16 halfway by the second quarter. They had a double-digit lead within the third. But then the Sixers surged. Tatum regarded able to soften down. And the Celtics couldn’t maintain on to the ball. They dedicated 5 turnovers within the interval, however it felt like extra. The Sixers took benefit.
Tatum missed his first 11 photographs. He lastly made one with 8:34 left within the third quarter, however he continued lacking, he continued shedding the ball. The Celtics did, too. Moments later, he missed a wide-open look from deep.
The sport appeared to activate one sequence. Jaylen Brown was blocked on the rim by Embiid, which led to a Sixers run-out. Georges Niang drilled a nook 3-pointer to chop the Celtics’ result in two. Then Tatum coughed up one other turnover. Embiid was fouled and made a pair of free throws to tie the sport. Then the Sixers took their first lead of the sport with two James Harden free throws.
Derrick White responded with a 3-pointer, however the Sixers saved coming. They went up 71-66 earlier than Brown’s three-point play. The Celtics tied the sport at 71 however Brown was caught on a pump faux from Harden for his fourth foul. The Sixers went forward by two coming into the fourth, all of the momentum on Philly’s aspect.
Other takeaways from the victory:
– Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s adjustment to start out Robert Williams over Derrick White paid fast dividends because the Celtics’ elevated measurement bothered the Sixers, forcing them into turnovers and missed photographs that helped Boston get working. The Sixers missed six of their first seven photographs, and the C’s took full benefit as they went forward 15-3 early.
But when Williams headed to the bench for the primary time halfway by the primary, there was a shift. The 76ers all of the sudden weren’t afraid to assault the paint. Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris slammed back-to-back dunks to push the Sixers to a 9-0 run.
– Brogdon’s minutes within the first quarter shouldn’t be ignored. He made his first 4 photographs, together with three 3-pointers, because the Sixers had been threatening.
After a woeful taking pictures show in Game 5, the Celtics made eight of their first 11 3-point makes an attempt, which paired with their stout defensive effort, helped push their result in 16 early within the second quarter.
– In the times for the reason that Game 5 loss, Mazzulla emphasised the significance for the Celtics to get stops defensively to allow them to get out and run and get simpler offensive appears. It labored early, because the C’s generated 16 fast-break factors within the first half. They solely had 5 fast-break factors in all of Game 5.
– Something was actually up with Tatum’s shot. Was it psychological? He missed his first eight photographs in Game 4, then his first six photographs in Game 5. It went to a different stage in Game 6 as he missed his first 11 photographs, together with a 3-pointer on the halftime buzzer. He regarded like he was practically unraveling within the third quarter, however stayed engaged defensively and by getting rebounds earlier than he lastly broke by within the closing moments.
Source: www.bostonherald.com