Celtics Game, bounce back with dominant performance in Game 2 against 76ers - image source CelticsBlog
Celtics Game:
Following a disappointing loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics were left feeling frustrated and irate. Coach Joe Mazzulla revealed that the team had spent the past 48 hours feeling “angry and pissed” after the defeat. The Celtics knew they had to come out stronger in Game 2 and change the direction of the series.
The Celtics’ star guard, Jaylen Brown, took on the challenge of setting a different tone for the team to follow. On the first offensive possession of the game, Brown drained a 3-pointer in response to Tobias Harris’ opening bucket. This set the tone for the Celtics’ offensive strategy for the remainder of the game.
However, Brown’s contribution was not limited to offense. He stepped up defensively as well, guarding James Harden full court from the moment the Sixers inbounded the ball. Brown’s energy and tenacity were infectious, and the rest of the Celtics followed his lead. As a result, they managed to dominate the game and secure a crucial victory to even the series.
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The Celtics’ performance in Game 2 was a testament to their resilience and determination. They refused to let the disappointment of Game 1 defeat them and instead used it as fuel to come back stronger. The series was now tied, and the Celtics had regained momentum heading into the next game.
The Boston Celtics mounted an impressive comeback in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Their hard work and determination paid off, resulting in a decisive 121-87 victory. The Celtics’ win not only tied for the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game in franchise history but also marked the first loss for the Sixers in this postseason.
The Celtics’ dominant performance was a team effort, with each player stepping up and contributing to the victory. Their defense was particularly noteworthy, holding the Sixers to just 87 points, which was well below their average for the season.
This victory evened the series at 1-1, with Game 3 scheduled to take place on Friday night in Philadelphia. The Celtics are now well-positioned to continue their winning momentum and take control of the series. The team’s strong performance in Game 2 will undoubtedly boost their confidence and motivate them to push even harder in the upcoming games.
Following a stunning 121-87 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown expressed his team’s desire to play to the best of their ability. Brown led all scorers with 25 points, helping the Celtics bounce back after an underwhelming performance in the previous game. “We just got to take more pride in ourselves,” he said. “That’s what we did.”
Despite forward Jayson Tatum’s limited playing time due to foul trouble, the Celtics were able to make up for it with their depth. Guard Malcolm Brogdon, in particular, had an impressive performance off the bench, tying a franchise playoff record with six 3-pointers and finishing with 23 points. This is the largest margin of victory the Celtics have achieved in any game in which Tatum was held to fewer than 10 points.
The Celtics’ defense was equally impressive, limiting the Sixers’ star players James Harden and Joel Embiid to just 12 and 15 points, respectively. Celtics guard Marcus Smart praised Brown for setting the tone and leading the momentum for the team. “When you’ve got one of your best players setting the tone like that, it’s hard for you not to follow,” he said. “Our defense has been slipping, and we wanted to come out and get back to what we do best.”
With their 121-87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics continued a trend of teams bouncing back to win Game 2 after losing Game 1 at home. This was the 15th consecutive time this has happened in a playoff series.
The Celtics were particularly focused on their defensive effort, having been critical of it in the previous game. They intensified their defense against the Sixers, limiting James Harden to just 2-for-14 shooting from the field, including 0-for-6 on 3-pointers. This was the worst field goal percentage following a 45-point game in NBA postseason history.
Additionally, the Celtics tested Joel Embiid in his first game back from a knee injury by putting him in space and attacking him in the pick-and-roll. While Embiid finished with five blocks, he only went 4-for-9 from the field.
In Game 1, the Celtics only attempted 26 shots from beyond the arc, their lowest of the season. However, in Game 2, they came out firing and made 20 of their 51 attempts from downtown, with seven of those coming in a dominant third quarter. This hot shooting helped push the lead out of reach for the Sixers, who were outscored 35-16 in the period. Tatum and Brown were able to rest in the final quarter as the Celtics cruised to a comfortable win.
Reflecting on the victory, Celtics forward Grant Williams emphasized the importance of maintaining their edge and intensity going forward in the series. “We can’t take our foot off the gas,” he said. “We need to maintain that same physicality and approach going into the next game. We can’t be the first ones to break.”
