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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 as did Boston\u2019s reliance on drop coverage \u2014 as the 76ers rookie became the youngest player in NBA history to drop 30 points with 10 rebounds in a playoff game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s obviously always plays that we could be better at, both as players and as a staff,\u201d head coach Joe Mazzulla said Wednesday after the Celtics gathered for a film session at the Auerbach Center. \u201c(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.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. White, Pritchard struggling<\/p>\n Derrick White\u2019s season-long shooting woes have carried over into the playoffs. He\u2019s 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\u2019s 3-point attempts were classified as \u201cwide open,\u201d meaning there was not a defender within six feet.<\/p>\n For most of the season, White remained a productive and valuable player despite his shaky shooting. But he\u2019s 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\u2019s loss.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve just got to play better,\u201d White said. \u201cThat\u2019s all I\u2019m focused on for Game 3.\u201d<\/p>\n Payton Pritchard also has yet to dial in his outside shot. Boston\u2019s sixth man is 2-for-13 from deep through two games.<\/p>\n
![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CELTICSsc-001_ce2c9d.jpg\")
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)