The first half it was Jayson Tatum. Jaylen Brown took over in the second half.
Add it all up and it was too much for Joel Embiid and Co.
The Celtics were able to finish off what would be a 109-101 victory over the Sixers in the first of the teams' best-of-seven game series at Disney World.
While Tatum (32 points, 13 rebounds) and Brown (29 points, 6 rebounds) were taking care of business both ends of the floor, the rotation of Daniel Theis, Robert Williams, Enes Kanter and even Grant Williams was enough to slow down Philadelphia's primary weapon, Embiid (26 points, 16 rebounds).
JAYLEN BROWN -------- pic.twitter.com/yvQ0UuQMfL
— Boston Celtics (@celtics)
August 18, 2020 "It felt more like a playoff game than I thought it would," Tatum told ESPN after the C's won.
The Sixers did head into the fourth quarter with a four-point lead after finishing off the third with a 13-0 run. But that's when Brown took over, rebounding from a right quad injury suffered in the first half.
"I'm sure [my grandpa> is not impressed."--Jaylen Brown after his 29-point game. pic.twitter.com/UNSs074dzF
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics)
August 18, 2020 The bad news for the Celtics was that Gordon Hayward was forced to leave the game with just more than three minutes to go with a sprained right ankle.
Gordon Hayward being helped off the court after appearing to injure his ankle. pic.twitter.com/ePanph0cwZ
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics)
August 18, 2020
