The Celtics simply couldn’t get any momentum going as they headed towards an early evening for his or her starters. The shorthanded 76ers constructed up a 26-point lead with lower than three minutes left within the third quarter because it appeared just like the bench guys had been about to be summoned to shut out the sport.
As a substitute, the Celtics stormed again for a surprising comeback win over the 76ers. They first lower the deficit right down to 14 factors heading into the ultimate quarter. Then they took the lead halfway via the body, steamrolling previous the Sixers courtesy of a 38-16 fourth quarter. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla revealed postgame that, regardless of his group’s woes, the battle was nonetheless there. It additionally didn’t damage that he challenged them at halftime, in response to Jayson Tatum.
“I simply appreciated our guys’ mindset,” Mazzulla advised reporters in Philadelphia. “I used to be form of finding out their physique language. It regarded like they actually, actually needed to do what it took to win. Type of caught with them and so they delivered. I used to be proud to teach them this recreation.”
Mazzulla stated the Celtics let their offense have an effect on their protection. It additionally didn’t assist the Sixers hit 14-of-25 of their 3-pointers via the opening three quarters. So regardless that they had been with out Joel Embiid, Paul George and others, Tyrese Maxey and the supporting solid got here to play and knock down pictures.
However the Celtics’ fortunes and math modified via that fourth quarter. They began to warmth up late within the third earlier than unleashing a barrage of 3s. The C’s hit 8-of-12 of their 3s and 15-of-22 of their area objectives total within the fourth quarter. Tatum was masterful down the stretch with 25 factors and eight assists within the second half.
“We simply needed to be sincere with ourselves at halftime,” Tatum stated. “They’d 20 factors in transition. Our aggressive spirit wasn’t the place it wanted to be. Joe was like, ‘Yo, in case you’re drained. Simply inform me. I’ll sit you guys down. Let the keep prepared group play.’ We simply had a option to make. … We simply needed to maintain combating. They introduced the perfect out of us.”
It was only one recreation over the course of an 82-game season, however the Celtics confirmed some gutsiness Sunday. They’re now on a three-game successful streak for the primary time in a month because it’s been an up-and-down a number of months. Whereas no person put something additional on a win in early-February, it was clear the Celtics loved the method of the victory Sunday.
“I advised the blokes, within the NBA, you get few probabilities the place you get to actually see your guys do one thing particular within the common season,” Mazzulla stated. “I felt like their strategy to that was it.”
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