3 observations after Sixers-Celtics season series ends with blowout Boston win

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3 observations after Sixers-Celtics season series ends with blowout Boston win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ efforts to even up their season series against the Celtics were in vain.

Boston earned a 123-105 victory Thursday night at TD Garden to polish off a 3-1 win in the season series.

The Sixers fell to 21-41 and the Celtics improved to 45-18.

Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum scored 35 points in 31 minutes.

As usual this season, the Sixers had a sizable list of injured players:

Paul George (left groin soreness)

Tyrese Maxey (lower back sprain)

Kyle Lowry (right hip injury management)

Joel Embiid (season-ending left knee injury)

Eric Gordon (season-ending right wrist surgery)

Jared McCain (season-ending left lateral meniscus surgery)

Boston was also without a slew of key players on the second night of a back-to-back, including Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

The Sixers will return home and face the Jazz on Sunday night. Here are observations on their loss in Boston:

Tatum has his way vs. Edwards

After dropping 41 points the night before vs. the Trail Blazers, Derrick White made a three-pointer to open the scoring. White and Tatum totaled 28 of Boston’s 35 first-quarter points and had success against both man-to-man and zone defenses.

Meanwhile, the Sixers’ starting backcourt of Quentin Grimes and Oubre combined to miss their first eight field goals.

Justin Edwards returned to the Sixers’ starting lineup after sitting out the team’s loss Tuesday to the Timberwolves with a left ankle sprain. He was ready to roll, scoring the Sixers’ first five points on a short jumper and a swished three-pointer.

On the other end, Edwards began the game as the Sixers’ primary defender on Tatum. He certainly looked like a rookie at times with that assignment.

Edwards got caught on screens, let Tatum reject picks and penetrate into the paint, and didn’t have much luck trying to contain the six-time All-Star. Tatum put the Celtics up 33-19 with a fast-break dunk.

Boston’s bench superior

Facing the team that waived…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/3-observations-sixers-celtics-season-220026356.html

Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia

Publish date : 2025-03-06 22:00:00

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