Celtics Never Trailed Once and the 76ers Got Exposed 123-91 in Game 1

Boston came out absolutely possessed on Sunday and didn't let Philadelphia breathe for a single moment. The second-seeded Celtics dismantled the seventh-seeded 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup, and honestly, it wasn't even close. The Celtics controlled the tempo from the opening tip and never looked back, which is the kind of statement win you make when you're trying to send a message in the playoffs.

Brown and Tatum Put on a Show Early

Jaylen Brown led the way with a game-high 26 points, while Jayson Tatum was equally dominant with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. What made this even more impressive was how efficient they were. Tatum scored 21 of his 25 points in the opening half alone, setting the tone before the 76ers could even get comfortable. Sam Hauser hit 4 of 6 from three and added 12 points off the bench, giving Boston multiple ways to punish Philly's defense.

Boston's lead ballooned fast. After an 11-1 run capped by a Tatum jumper, the Celtics pushed ahead 17-7. By the end of the first quarter, Boston was up 33-18 after Philadelphia shot just 28.6% from the field and made only 1 of 9 from beyond the arc. The Celtics then stretched things to a 23-point lead in the second and took a commanding 64-46 halftime advantage into the break.

The 76ers Couldn't Mount Any Real Comeback

The 76ers got Tyrese Maxey to 21 points with eight assists and Paul George chipped in 17, but it wasn't enough to climb out of the hole. Kelly Oubre finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. The problem? Philadelphia shot just 38.9% overall and a brutal 4 of 23 from three-point range (17.4%). Even worse, no single Philadelphia player made more than one three-pointer all night. The 76ers also coughed up 15 turnovers, and Boston cashed those mistakes in hard, outscoring Philly 22-3 off turnovers.

Brown erupted in the third quarter with 16 of his points, and Boston responded by going on a 10-0 run when Philadelphia tried to trim the deficit to 15. The Celtics pushed the lead to as much as 26 in the third and led 95-71 heading into the fourth. A Payton Pritchard layup with 9:03 left gave Boston a 107-75 cushion, and the Celtics eventually led by as many as 35 down the stretch.

Game 2 tips off Tuesday night in Boston. If the 76ers can't fix their outside shooting and ball security, this series could get ugly fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.