Celtics rout Sixers 128-96 to take 3-1 series lead

Payton Pritchard’s 32 factors led the Boston Celtics to a dominant 128-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday evening regardless of Joel Embiid’s return from an appendectomy.

The win provides the Celtics a commanding 3-1 lead because the sequence heads again to Boston for Recreation 5, when the C’s could have an opportunity to clinch an Japanese Convention Semifinals berth.

Boston had a clear invoice of well being for Recreation 4 and began Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta.

On the opposite facet, Joel Embiid returned to the courtroom for the primary time since April 6 and Kelly Oubre Jr., who was listed as questionable with proper adductor soreness, suited up, too. They each began the sport alongside Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Paul George.

In the beginning, the sport was all in regards to the facilities. Neemias Queta scored the Celtics’ first 5 factors on a pair dunks and a 1 of two journey to the free throw line. When Nikola Vučević subbed in early for him about 3 minutes into the sport, Vooch scored Boston’s subsequent 4 factors.

On the similar time, Embiid regarded like he all the time does. He instantly drew a pair fouls and hit all 4 free throws throughout his first 7-minute stretch on the courtroom. He had 8 out of the Sixers’ 10 factors when he sat, because the Celtics have been up by 1.

Whereas the facilities have been going off, the sport was clunky and no person else might hit something. Maxey didn’t actually have a shot try till there have been about 3 minutes left within the first quarter.

When George hit a three-pointer to place the Sixers up 13-12, the Payton Pritchard present started, as he instantly answered it with a 3 of his personal, then hit one other after Andre Drummond (lastly!) missed a nook try.

Late within the first quarter, the bench went on an 8-0 run of its personal. Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh saved a play alive with 3 offensive rebounds off of missed pictures and every hit a three-pointer. By the tip of the quarter, the C’s bench had 24 factors — greater than the Sixers’ whole 18.

A part of that bench scoring whole was a ridiculous one-legged on-the-run three-pointer from Pritchard to beat the buzzer and put Boston up 34-18.

Jaylen Brown began the second quarter clearly making an attempt to get extra concerned and, regardless of lacking a pair of free throws early, he hit a nook 3 for his first made shot of the sport.

However, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than it was the Pritchard present once more. He hit his fourth three-pointer a couple of minutes into the quarter, then drove into Adem Bona for a midrange rating to get to 18 factors — 13 greater than some other Celtic at that time.

After Hauser hit a three-pointer of his personal, the Celtics have been up 45-24 and Xfinity Cell Area began getting quiet. Whereas the Sixers began hitting pictures and constructed up some momentum, a Luka Garza three-pointer and a Brown step again 3 over George helped preserve a stable lead.

By the tip of the half, Boston was up 56-38, with Pritchard’s 18 factors main the best way. No different Celtic completed with double-digit factors, with Brown coming closest with 8.

Each Jays struggled capturing within the first half, with Tatum solely hitting 1 of 8 pictures and Brown going 3 of 9 from the sphere. The starters as an entire solely had 24 of Boston’s 56 factors.

On the opposite facet of the courtroom, Embiid led the Sixers with 12 factors, however no person else had greater than 7 — Maxey, on solely 3 discipline purpose makes an attempt — and the group regarded far much less potent than they have been over the primary three video games of the sequence.

Because the second half started with Pritchard on the bench, the Jays obtained an opportunity to construct some rhythm and each capitalized, as Brown and Tatum shortly scored 7 factors and 6 factors, respectively.

Whereas the Sixers made an effort to get Maxey extra concerned — an effort that resulted in a three-point make on Philly’s first possession of the third quarter — the Celtics did a superb job of creating his life tough. When Maxey obtained a breakaway in transition, White turned on the boosters and blocked him from behind to erase a simple basket.

The remainder of the Sixers offense struggled to start out the half as properly, particularly Edgecombe, who appeared to have misplaced all the arrogance he displayed in Recreation 2 after beginning the evening capturing 1 of seven from the sphere.

With about 7 minutes to go within the third quarter, the Celtics have been up by 24 factors, 71-47. The Sixers began hitting some pictures, however couldn’t get stops, so the lead hovered round 20 factors for the remainder of the quarter.

By the tip of the quarter, Brown and Tatum had 18 and 20 factors, respectively, however the Pritchard present wasn’t over. He hit two extra three-pointers, a tricky fadeaway, a pair of late buckets and a pair free throws to complete the third with 32 factors — 10 greater than anybody else within the recreation.

By the point the fourth quarter started, the Celtics have been up by 21 factors and the sport was all however over. Then, lower than 2 minutes in, a Tatum 4-point play prolonged the result in 30 and put it even additional out of attain.

One other Tatum three-pointer sealed the take care of about 6 minutes left to go, and fewer than a minute later the Sixers referred to as it quits and emptied the bench.

Pritchard, Boston’s undisputed MVP of the evening, completed with 32 factors on 57.1% capturing from the sphere, 6 three-pointers, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal.

Tatum completed with 30 factors on 50% capturing, 7 rebounds and 11 assists. Notably, after capturing 1 of 8 from the sphere within the first half, he shot 7 of 8 within the second half.

Brown completed with 20 factors on 40% capturing, 7 rebounds and a pair of shares.

In his return, Embiid performed 34 minutes and racked up 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. His playoff file in opposition to the Celtics is now 3-13.

Maxey and George put up 22 and 16 factors, respectively. Edgecombe completed with solely 6 factors on 22.2% capturing.

Total, the Celtics shot 48.3% from the sphere and 45.3% from three-point vary, with 24 three-point makes, whereas the Sixers shot 41.3% from the sphere and 30% on threes.

The C’s additionally gained the rebounding battle 51-30 and put up extra pictures than Philadelphia, 87-80, however completed the sport with extra turnovers, 12-8.

Recreation 5 shall be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at TD Backyard in Boston. Will probably be broadcast on ESPN.