The Celtics hung on late, this time needing the 76ers to miss right at the buzzer. The end result was a 109-108 Boston victory Friday from Philadelphia. The C’s won their third straight game, getting to 3-3, while the Sixers dropped to 4-1. Boston also improved to 1-0 in NBA Cup play in East Group B.
It was all C’s right from tipoff, building a 24-point lead midway through the first half. They were relentless on both ends of the court while also picking up 15 fast-break points. That chaos and energy the Celtics wanted to show was on full display.
The Sixers, king of comebacks this young season, fought back to tie the game midway through the third quarter. That was the lone time the game was tied, though, as the Celtics led for nearly the entire game. The Sixers made it interesting late, hoping to put together another comeback attempt. But the Celtics prevailed in the end, even though they scored just one point in the final few minutes of the game.
Jaylen Brown was again on fire, finishing with 32 points and six assists. Anfernee Simons put up 19 points off the bench. Tyrese Maxey had 26 points and 14 assists, though he also had five turnovers. Joel Embiid had 20 points and six rebounds.
The Celtics are back home for a three-game home stand coming up, hosting the Rockets next at 8 p.m. Saturday at TD Garden. Here are four takeaways from Boston’s win over Philadelphia:
Another thrilling finish: There were multiple points where it looked like the Celtics were going to cruise to the win Friday. Whether it was a 24-point lead in the first half or an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, the C’s looked in control for large parts of the night. But the Sixers kept the pressure on the Celtics, including a late turnover and missed free throws. On the final possession, the Celtics forced an empty Sixers possession as they picked up the one-point victory this time around.
Shooting slumps continue: Derrick White and Payton Pritchard’s 3-point shooting, or lack thereof, has been one of the early surprises to open the year. It didn’t get much better Friday. White finished 2-for-7 from 3 while Pritchard was 1-for-9. White came into Friday’s game shooting 25.0% from 3 on 11.2 attempts per game, while Pritchard was at 18.9% on 7.4 attempts. Both guards are proven shooters, so it’s not a long-term concern by any means. Still, it’s certainly frustrating for them to miss so many solid looks to open the year.
Another start: While C’s coach Joe Mazzulla tinkered with his starting lineup to start the season, Josh Minott has seemingly settled into the role. Friday’s game marked the third straight game Minott joined the starters. He didn’t have a massive night like the Cavs win, but Minott still provided some nice moments and an edge on the glass with eight rebounds. It’s clear Mazzulla is still tinkering with his rotations. Hugo Gonzalez also got some extended run, finishing with 15 minutes and five points as he was seemingly everywhere defensively.
NBA Cup implications: The colorful courts are back for NBA Cup play, which is in its third season. As a reminder of the format, 30 teams are divided into six groups with three groups in each conference. The Celtics and Sixers are part of East Group B, along with the Pistons, Nets and Magic. The winner of the three groups will advance to the knockout stages, along with one wild-card team in each round. So eight total teams make it to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup in a single elimination bracket. The C’s picked up the all-important victory Friday, though it was narrow. Point differential matters in the standings, though it remains to be seen if that ends up mattering down the line.
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