The Celtics pummeled the 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup. Philadelphia landed a counterpunch in Game 2.
As, the tied-up series shifts to Philly for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday, here are four takeaways on what’s transpired thus far:
1. Sixers got hot
The Sixers were not a good 3-point shooting team during the regular season (22nd in made threes per game, 23rd in shooting percentage), and they were dreadful from deep in Game 1, attempting 23 triples and making just four in a 123-91 loss at TD Garden.
But they followed that up with one of their best 3-point showings of the season Tuesday in Game 2, nailing 19 threes (fourth-most this season) at a 48.7% clip (third-best).
More than half of those makes came from starting guards VJ Edgecombe (6-for-10) and Tyrese Maxey (5-for-12), but all seven Sixers who attempted a three hit at least one. Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes made two apiece.
Maxey hit two of the biggest shots of the game, walking into back-to-back fourth-quarter 3-pointers after eluding Celtics guards around Andre Drummond screens. Those triggered an 11-0 Philly run that stretched a two-point lead to double digits. The Sixers went on to win 111-97.
Edgecombe, who averaged just two made threes per game this season, did much of his damage against Sam Hauser. Sixers players shot 10-for-16 and 5-for-8 from three against Hauser, per NBA player tracking, with the veteran wing often helped off of Edgecombe to double the more proven Maxey. That strategy backfired — as did Boston’s reliance on drop coverage — as the 76ers rookie became the youngest player in NBA history to drop 30 points with 10 rebounds in a playoff game.
“I think there’s obviously always plays that we could be better at, both as players and as a staff,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said Wednesday after the Celtics gathered for a film session at the Auerbach Center. “(We) came in today, look at the plays that we can get better at, and we move into the next game. I think especially in a series, there are possessions you have to be great at regardless, but every game does take on a life of its own, and have to be ready to be able to adjust to that.”
2. White, Pritchard struggling
Derrick White’s season-long shooting woes have carried over into the playoffs. He’s gone 7-for-22 from the field and 4-for-17 from three so far in this series, including an eight-point, 3-for-12 showing in Game 2. Eleven of White’s 3-point attempts were classified as “wide open,” meaning there was not a defender within six feet.
For most of the season, White remained a productive and valuable player despite his shaky shooting. But he’s also lacked in other against against the Sixers, struggling at times as a defender against Maxey and recording as many turnovers (three) as assists in Tuesday’s loss.
“I’ve just got to play better,” White said. “That’s all I’m focused on for Game 3.”
Payton Pritchard also has yet to dial in his outside shot. Boston’s sixth man is 2-for-13 from deep through two games.
Team-wide, the Celtics shot 13-for-50 on 3-pointers in Game 2, sparking memories of the last year’s ill-fated Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks. They’ve shot 26% or worse from three in 13 games over the last two seasons — including Tuesday night and Games 1 and 2 against the Knicks — and lost 12 of them.
“It was a lot of open looks, and looks that (White and Pritchard) normally make,” Jayson Tatum said. “I don’t know how many they made this year, but I remember last year, both those guys made 250-plus threes. So they’re great shooters. You know, sometimes the ball just don’t go in, but they never lose confidence in them. They’ll be ready. We’ll all be ready Friday.”
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates a three as the Celtics take on the 76ers at the garden in game 2 of the first round of the Playoffs. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
3. Tatum check-in
Overall, it’s been an encouraging return to playoff basketball for Tatum, even if his scoring output (44 points through two games) hasn’t returned to his pre-injury standards. He’s also been shaky on 3-pointers (3-for-15) but has made 66.7% of his twos while continuing to pile up rebounds (25 total) and assists (16).
Tatum’s defense has been solid, too. The 76ers are shooting 10-for-31 against him — including one Maxey make on seven attempts — and Tatum has grabbed three steals while committing just one shooting foul. He was the only Celtic to post a positive plus/minus in Game 2, finishing as a plus-1 over 39 minutes.
“I’m feeling good,” he said. “Sounds cliche, but man, I’m back in the playoffs. And for me, it’s a win every day that I get to — I’ve come back from what happened last May, and been able to play at this level for the last month, and obviously going to continue to get better. But I get to walk off the court on my own two feet, and as long as I do that every game, I win a little bit.”
4. Embiid question looms
The Sixers split the first two games despite playing both without their former NBA MVP center, Joel Embiid, who has not taken the floor since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 9. Embiid reportedly began the strength and conditioning portion of his rehab process earlier this week. There’s been no word out of Philadelphia on whether he could return during this series, but the longer it goes, the more realistic that becomes.
In Embiid’s absence, the 76ers have relied on Adem Bona and Drummond at the five. Bona hasn’t been much of a factor — his biggest highlight was getting posterized by Jaylen Brown early in Game 2 — but the big-bodied Drummond was a difference-maker Tuesday night, scoring 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds, including three offensive boards.
Drummond beat Neemias Queta and backup Nikola Vucevic for second-chance baskets, and the 76ers outscored the Celtics by 12 points over his 26 minutes, the second-best mark behind Edgecombe’s plus-17.
“Obviously, we have a big job of holding off guys like Drummond and Bona off the glass,” said Vucevic, who has 12 points. 11 rebounds, no blocks and six fouls in 36 minutes off the bench through two games. “They’re both very good offensive rebounders. Drummond is one of the best to ever do it. Big body. He uses his body really well to kind of get you under the rim and in difficult positions.”