Celtics Never Trailed Once and the 76ers Got Buried 123-91 in Game 1
Boston came out swinging and never looked back. The Celtics dominated the Philadelphia 76ers from the opening tip, cruising to a 123-91 victory in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff matchup on Sunday at TD Garden. This wasn't close. This wasn't a comeback story. This was a statement.
Brown and Tatum Put the 76ers Away Early
Jaylen Brown led the way with a game-high 26 points, but it was Jayson Tatum who set the tone early, dropping 21 of his 25 points in the first half alone. He finished with 11 rebounds and seven assists. Sam Hauser chipped in 12 points, knocking down 4 of 6 from deep. The second-seeded Celtics never trailed for a single second, and by halftime, they were already up 64-46. The damage was done.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiBoston's early aggression was relentless. After an 11-1 run capped by a Tatum jumper, the Celtics pushed to a 17-7 lead that set the tone for the entire game. They stretched that lead to 23 points in the second quarter and kept their foot on the gas through the third and fourth. Brown scored 16 of his 26 points in the third quarter alone as Boston extended their lead to as many as 26 in that frame.
Philly's Offense Couldn't Keep Up
The seventh-seeded 76ers looked lost on offense. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 21 points and eight assists, and Paul George added 17, but no other player made more than one 3-pointer. Philadelphia shot just 38.9% from the field and a brutal 4 of 23 (17.4%) from 3-point range. To make matters worse, the 76ers coughed it up 15 times, leading to Boston's 22-3 advantage in points off turnovers. Kelly Oubre finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough.
Boston's bench contributed too. Neemias Queta dealt with foul trouble but still managed 13 points in 15 minutes of action. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Celtics held a 107-75 lead and would eventually lead by as many as 35 down the stretch.
Game 2 tips off Tuesday night in Boston. The 76ers need to figure out their offense fast, or this series could get ugly real quick.
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