The Boston Celtics suffocated Philly's offense from tip-off, forcing turnovers and dominating transition. The Philadelphia 76ers couldn't find answers as the Celtics rolled to an early series lead.
The Boston Celtics made sure Game 1 never turned into a matchup of momentum swings.
From the opening quarter, they dictated the pace, turned the defense into offense, and left the Philadelphia 76ers trying to play catch-up from the start of the game to its conclusion. Boston led 33-18 after one quarter, 64-46 at halftime, and 95-71 after three before cruising to an easy 123-91 win; by the time the fourth quarter came along, the game was all but over.
What stood out was how completely Boston suffocated Philadelphia's offense. The Celtics were active at the point of attack, forced the Sixers into early turnovers, and turned those possessions into transition points. Philadelphia only shot 39% from the field and couldn't generate efficient offense the entire game. Boston also forced 14 turnovers and converted them into 22 points; this was a big reason why the game was never close.
Tyrese Maxey still fought through the pressure and finished with 21 points and eight assists, but nothing came easy. He shot 8-20 from the field and had to create against a defense that was keyed on him; his transition game was cut off, and the driving lanes were clogged with defenders. Nick Nurse called a lot of isolation plays for Maxey in this contest, but Boston has too staunch a defense to be broken down in such a simplistic manner.
Boston's stars made the difference on the other end. Jayson Tatum finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Jaylen Brown added 26 points and helped stretch the lead with a great third-quarter performance. The Celtics also got support from their bench, which outscored Philadelphia's reserves 37-27, giving Boston another layer of control in a game that they dominated from start to finish.
Boston's defense suffocated Philadelphia, taking away their easiest scoring options. Maxey was forced to try to create against a staunch defense while the Celtics were able to get to their spots and do what they pleased on offense.
For the Sixers, this game was a reminder that they can't simply hope that one player can bail them out with isolations; to stand a chance, they need great performances from everyone.
Join The 76ersRoundtable Community
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.