The Boston Celtics open a three game road trip against an undermanned Philadelphia 76ers team without rookie phenom Joel Embiid. Currently riding a four game road winning streak, Boston looks to build off of Al Horford’s best game of his Celtic career last night against Sacramento. He’s the only player in league history to record four-plus three pointers, six-plus blocks, and two-plus steals in a game and also tacked on 26 points.
It was a first quarter to forget as both Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson were lackadaisical on their defensive assignments allowing Gerald Henderson and Jahlil Okafor to go a combined 5-5 from the field.
Ranked seventh in the league in three-point field goals per game, Philly rained down five shots from beyond the arc.
On the bright side, Isaiah Thomas and Kelly Olynyk got the pick-and-roll going to get the guys in green back in the game. IT assisted Olynyk on a layup and on the very next possession, the big man returned the favor. Gang Green finished the quarter down 30-25.
The second quarter was no different.
Philly added four more three pointers and ended the half shooting 9-18 from deep. Sixers’ guards Sergio Rodriguez and Gerald Henderson took advantage of the C’s horrible perimeter defense totaling for 22 points off 67% shooting, including 5-8 from three.
Boston went to Horford early on in the post but deferred to guards Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas. The backcourt combined to score 12 of the 23 points and they are the only reason why this game is even close.
Philadelphia leads 53-45 in a surprising first half.
Isaiah Thomas decided to take matters into his own hands this quarter. Despite his small stature, he was an absolute bully on the court and was living in the paint. He was drawing fouls at will and was even able to draw one from Nik Stauskas on a three point attempt. If it wasn’t rebounding, Bradley was deflecting passes and causing havoc on the defensive end. AB surpassed his average rebounds per game with nine through three quarters and added a steal to the mix. No doubt he sparked the team’s overall willingness to contest every shot possible.
Boston manages to tie the game 74-74.
It was a nail-biting fourth quarter to say the least.
Thomas continued his scorching shooting and finished the game with 37 points. He traded buckets with 76ers forward Dario Saric late in the game, including one crossover move that put Saric on skates. With 34 seconds remaining, head coach Brad Stevens calls a perfectly executed play for Thomas on a driving layup at full speed, that gave them the lead.
Horford was able to ice the game with two free throws with 1.7 seconds left and the Celtics hold on for the win to extend their road winning streak to five games.
Final Score- Celtics 107, 76ers 106
The GREEN:
- Isaiah Thomas scored 37 points on 11/19 shooting.
- Avery Bradley had a near double double with 20 points and nine rebounds.
- Jaylen Brown sparked the fourth quarter run with a break-away dunk and a monster block.
- Though they were out-rebounded by one, gang rebounding proved to be huge late down the stretch in securing the victory.
The GROSS:
- Rookie Dario Saric had 21 points and 12 rebounds on 7-12 shooting, including 3-6 from deep.
- Philadelphia shot 15-33 from the three point line.
- Every starter for the 76ers scored in double figures.
GREENLIGHTS:
IT w/the save, Brown with the FLUSH. #celtics https://t.co/MaJ4lqsiqY
— KWAPT (@KWAPT) December 4, 2016
JB block lead to Jonas trey:#celtics https://t.co/K8RpFRBUj3
— KWAPT (@KWAPT) December 4, 2016
WOOOOP. #celtics https://t.co/jVG3LkpVl2
— KWAPT (@KWAPT) December 4, 2016
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