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The Boston Celtics took a 2-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers with their 114-102 Game 3 victory Friday night. Six Celtics finished in double figures, with Jayson Tatum leading the way with 27 points. All five of Boston’s starters had reached double digits in scoring just 18 seconds into the second half.
Robert Williams left the game late in the second half after suffering a right forearm contusion trying to make a hustle play on a loose ball.
After returning to the bench, the team announced that Williams was available to return to the game but he did not check back in.
Philadelphia led for all of just 2:49 Friday night, but made things interesting late in the fourth quarter, cutting Boston’s lead down to just four with 3:51 remaining. With the 76ers making a late push, it was Tatum that closed the door, scoring seven consecutive points in the closing minutes.
Boston finished the game with 25 assists. The C’s are now averaging 26.8 assists per game this season, which is good for second amongst teams remaining, behind just the Golden State Warriors (28.6).
Here are three takeaways from Boston’s Game 2 victory:
Another solid defensive night
After one of their worst defensive efforts of the season in Game 1, the Celtics’ defense has settled back in. Boston’s defense set the tone from the opening tip, as the C’s held Philly to just 47 first-half points on 13-of-38 (34.2%) shooting. Philadelphia scored just 18 second-quarter points, which is tied for their third-fewest in any quarter this season. Boston also forced 11 first-half turnovers, which they turned into 15 points.
In their last two games, the 76ers are averaging just 94.5 points per game, on 39.4% shooting, and have turned the ball over 24 times. Boston is also out-rebounding Philly 91-83 across those two games.
After struggling a bit in their first-round series against Atlanta, and into Game 1 of the Philadelphia series, the Celtics’ defense appears to have found themselves again. After all, this is a unit that finished second in defense this season.
Playoff Al Horford
After a rough night in Game 2, Al Horford bounced back in a big way in Game 3. Horford finished Game 2 with just five points, on 2-of-10 (20%) shooting from the field and 1-of-8 (12.5%) from three.
When asked about his struggles shooting prior to Game 3, Horford said it’s just part of the game when you are “an elite shooter”, which got a chuckle out of a reporter.
Horford proved he is an elite shooter in Game 3. The 15-year vet finished the night with 17 points on 6-of-8 (75%) from the field, including 5-of-7 (71.4%) from deep, including this huge shot late in the fourth.
With his five triples, Horford became the oldest center in NBA history with at least five threes in a playoff game.
James Harden has gone cold
After tying his playoff career high with 45 points in Game 1, James Harden has gone ice cold. In Games 2 and 3, Harden has combined for just 28 points on 5-of-28 (17.8%) shooting, including 2-of-13 (15.3%) from three. In those games, Harden has a plus-minus of -33.
The Celtics have figured out how to slow down Harden by throwing different looks at him, and it is really hurting the 76ers offense.
Boston will now enter Sunday’s Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead. For what it’s worth, 79.8% of teams have won their series when having a 2-1 lead.
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