You have to love the NBA playoffs where it feels like you are just as likely to see a nailbiter game as a regular season style blowout. Tonight at TD Garden, the Sixers surprisingly got the newly minted NBA MVP Joel Embiid (15 points, 5 blocks in 27 minutes) back in the lineup but then they proceeded to get run over by the Celtics 121-87 to tie the series at one game apiece. Philadelphia's shooting guard James Harden who dropped 45 points in a shocking Game 1 upset looked more like his indifferent, playoff choker self as he had 12 points (on 2-of-14 shooting!) and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes. You figured that Boston would win this one but with the way it transpired, it is hard to draw too many conclusions from this glorified exhibition game. The series now shifts to Philly with Game 3 on Friday (7:30, ESPN).
Five Celtics scored at least 12 points led by shooting guard Jaylen Brown who had a game-high 25 points and backup point guard Malcolm Brogdon (23 points, 6 rebounds) who hit a game-high six 3-pointers off the bench. C's superstar small forward Jayson Tatum had the worst playoff performance of his career (7 points, 7 rebounds in 19 minutes) as he battled foul trouble but it could not have mattered less as point guard Marcus Smart and shooting guard Derrick White each scored 15 points. Hell, even power forward Grant Williams came out of witness protection to toss in 12 points off the bench in extended minutes (29).
Boston was in control the entire way as they led 28-22 after the first quarter and 57-49 at halftime. It was all about the third quarter though as the C's outscored the Sixers 35-16 which made the fourth quarter largely irrelevant (Boston took that 29-22 just for kicks). As you would guess, the numbers were staggering in the home team's favor: the Celtics shot 7.5% better from the floor (46.7%-39.2%), they hit 14 more 3-pointers (20-6), grabbed five more rebounds (46-41), handed out twice as many assists (26-13), had three times as many steals (6-2) and five less turnovers (11-6) than the Sixers. Boston also notched seven more second chance points (21-14) and eight more points off turnovers (13-5) as they were up by as many as 36 points.
Embiid playing in Game 2 was a strange decision because you figured Philly winning Game 1 would buy him a little more time to rest and get his body right. He has never been known as the most in-shape guy in the league but lumbering around with a bulky new knee brace, he seemed even slower than usual which is saying something. They are just lucky that he did not get hurt but they still got what they came for in the first two games: a road win at the Garden. Boston will have to win at least once in Philadelphia to take this series so why not promptly get that out of the way on Friday? You cannot be too overconfident given how they struggled to put Atlanta away in the first round not to mention losing in Game 1 to Philadelphia but the Celtics are simply a better team than the Sixers so hopefully they continue to play like that moving forward.
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