After rolling in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics dropped Game 2 in decisive fashion on Tuesday night.

The series is tied at one game apiece heading into Friday night's Game 3, which will take place in Philadelphia.

The 1-1 series is actually part of a historic trend in these playoffs, as noted by NBA Communications:

Five first-round playoff series are tied 1-1, matching the most under the current format (since 1984) and marking the first time since 2014. The NBA Playoffs presented by @Google continue tonight with three games on @NBAonPrime.

The Pistons and Magic, Celtics and 76ers, Hawks and Knicks, Spurs and Blazers and Timberwolves and Nuggets are all tied at 1-1.

1) For starters, they can shoot better from the outside. Boston, one of the top three-point shooting teams in the league during the regular season, went just 13-of-50 from beyond-the-arc in the Game 2 loss.

Derrick White was 2-of-10 while Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser were both 2-of-8. Each of those three are better shooters than that, and if they prove it on Friday, Boston will have a very good chance to take the series lead.

2) The C's can continue to win the rebounding battle like they have in the first two games. Being more physical and owning the glass is very important and if Boston can generate second chances on offense and limit them on defense, they'll be doing well on Friday night.

3) They can continue to make life tough for Tyrese Maxey. Yes: VJ Edgecombe and Paul George had nice games in Game 2, but if Boston can keep Maxey to the high-volume, low-efficiency shooting numbers he's had in the first two games, that will go a long way toward limiting Philly's offense. He's 19-for-48 from the floor in the first two games and just 5-of-16 from three.

Guard Derrick White took home an important award on Thursday afternoon before the Celtics play the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night in Game 3 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

White was named as the Sportsmanship Award winner, which doesn't carry the same gravitas as the MVP Award or the Defensive Player of the Year, but it's still a nice recognition for what a player means to an organization on and off the court.

White is the second straight Celtics guard to win the award, as Jrue Holliday won it in 2024-25.

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