The Boston Celtics avoided an inexcusable tumble to the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers with a jaw-dropping comeback at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night.
Philadelphia, without co-stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, demonstrated zero fear in facing Boston’s championship core. The Sixers took down the Celtics on Christmas Day during their last meeting and even though Payton Pritchard was Boston’s only notable absence, Philadelphia’s grit and toughness ruled the floor — until the fourth quarter.
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics woke up in desperation to erase a Sixers lead that reached 26 points, flipped the script on their 3-point shooting and demonstrated their most resilience this season. Boston improved to 35-15 with the victory as Philadelphia dropped to 19-29 amid its down-on-luck campaign.
Here are four studs and two duds from Boston’s 118-110 win over Philadelphia:
STUDS
Jayson Tatum
Boston’s superstar answered the call when the team was in dire need of a go-ahead bucket.
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Tatum shook off a modest and ineffective 3-for-6 shooting performance in the first half and erupted when it mattered the most. The six-time All-Star drained a go-ahead 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to put the Celtics ahead, 101-100, with 6:50 remaining. Tatum also recorded timely assists to Derrick White to amplify the pressure. Boston received a game-high 35 points with seven rebounds and 11 assists from Tatum — he notched his 22nd double-double of the season.
Tyrese Maxey
The Sixers didn’t have their No. 1 or No. 2, but Maxey wasn’t fazed in the slightest.
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Maxey was a nightmare to defend as the 24-year-old scored a team-leading 34 points, knocking down 5-of-8 threes and going a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Maxey also tallied six assists but it wasn’t enough to secure Philadelphia’s victory, even when the Sixers entered the fourth quarter with a 14-point advantage.
Kristaps Porzingis
While the Celtics struggled mightily to weather the storm of Maxey and the Sixers, Porzingis remained laser-focused.
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Boston’s 7-footer contributed 18 points along with a game-high five blocks, seven rebounds and three assists. Porzingis didn’t tap out, even when the going got rough and continued to perform like the efficient two-way player he’s been since returning from offseason surgery.
Guerschon Yabusele
Rumors suggest the Celtics are interested in a reunion with Yabusele, and for good reason.
Yabusele’s growth and confidence were on full display as the 29-year-old followed Maxey’s footsteps and delivered an elite 21-point showing. Yabusele was involved in all areas of the floor, grabbing six rebounds, knocking down a pair of threes and adding a few ferocious dunks in the process.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was likely taking notes with his binoculars pointed toward Yabusele all night long.
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DUDS
Boston’s first-half offense
The Sixers had no issue running circles around the Celtics until the halftime buzzer sounded to put a pause on the punishment.
Boston did itself zero favors, tripping over its own feet yet again. The Celtics were atrocious from beyond the arc, specifically on wide-open 3-point looks. Porzingis was the only player on the floor from Boston to knock down more than one 3-pointer in the first half — Porzingis shot 3-for-6. Boston as a team, shot 26.9% (7-for-26) from 3-point range, allowing the Sixers to capitalize.
Philadelphia’s 17-point halftime lead was the second-largest deficit the Celtics have faced after the first half of any game played this season.
Jrue Holiday
It’s been 50 games and we’ve yet to see Holiday’s long-awaited breakout.
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Holiday’s offensive struggles continued in the City of Brotherly Love. He pitched in with nine points, five rebounds and five assists, and while Holiday did make a few timely plays in the fourth quarter to keep the Celtics on track, it wasn’t enough to overwrite the night.
