Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics revealed that his team felt angry and frustrated for the past two days following their loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Philadelphia 76ers on their home court. Consequently, Jaylen Brown, a guard for the Celtics, made it his mission to set the tone for the team from the opening minutes of Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Brown’s first move was a 3-pointer on Boston’s initial offensive possession in response to Tobias Harris’s opening bucket. He then went on to pick up James Harden full court from the moment the Sixers inbounded the ball, sending a message to his teammates that they needed to step up their game.
The Celtics’ stellar performance, fueled by Brown’s leadership, led to a resounding 121-87 victory over the Sixers in Game 2. Boston’s triumph by 34 points is tied for the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game in franchise history. It was also the Sixers’ first loss of the postseason, tying the series at 1-1. Game 3 is set for Friday night in Philadelphia.
Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics guard, expressed that the team needed to take more pride in themselves after their loss in Game 1. He believed that they underperformed and needed to play to the best of their abilities, which they accomplished in Game 2.
Brown led the scoring with 25 points and compensated for Jayson Tatum’s limited performance, who only scored seven points due to spending most of the game in foul trouble. Boston’s margin of victory was their largest in any game in which Tatum scored fewer than 10 points.
Malcolm Brogdon, the Celtics guard, emphasized their team’s depth and the ability of players like himself, Derrick White, and Grant Williams to contribute when needed.
On the defensive side, the Celtics maintained their intensity, limiting James Harden to 12 points following his 45-point game in Game 1, and Joel Embiid, who had just returned from a knee injury and won the newly minted NBA MVP, to only 15 points.
Marcus Smart, the Celtics guard, commended Brown for starting the momentum and leading by example. The Celtics had been struggling defensively, but they were determined to get back to their usual form, which they achieved in Game 2.
Boston’s win marks the 15th time in a row that a team that lost Game 1 of a playoff series at home rebounded to win Game 2. Despite being critical of their defense in the first game, the Celtics stepped up their game, putting pressure on the Sixers, who struggled to find their rhythm.
Harden had his worst field goal percentage following a 45-point game in NBA postseason history, shooting 2-for-14 from the field (0-for-6 on 3s). The Celtics also tested Embiid, who had a decent performance with five blocks, but they challenged him with pick-and-roll plays to see how much running he could handle in his return from injury.
In Game 2, the Boston Celtics improved their 3-point shooting, making 20 of their 51 attempts from beyond the arc. The team hit seven 3-pointers during the third quarter, which helped them secure a comfortable lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. This allowed key players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to rest for the final period of the game. The Celtics outscored the Sixers 35-16 in the third quarter, contributing significantly to their 34-point victory.
Celtics forward Grant Williams recognized the importance of maintaining their momentum going forward. He acknowledged that they had let games slip away in the past and emphasized the need to maint