The Celtics needed nearly the entire game, getting huge shots down the stretch to beat the 76ers 108-100 in Game 3 on Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The C’s snatched the 2-1 series lead and regained home-court advantage following the victory.
Jayson Tatum hit multiple crucial shots down the stretch, making him Friday’s “Name to Know” Player of the Game.
Tatum finished with 25 points, four rebounds and seven assists in 42 minutes, shooting 9-for-17 from the floor and 5-for-7 on 3-pointers. He played the entire fourth quarter, putting up 11 points and shooting 4-for-5 from the field, to help clinch the victory for the Celtics. It was the type of performance Tatum has put up multiple times in his impressive career.
Tatum Takes Over in the Fourth
That was the type of finish the Celtics needed from Tatum as they fended off the Sixers. While the 76ers kept the pressure on the C’s down the stretch, the Celtics’ shot-making came up huge. Tatum’s 3-pointers in the final seconds helped slam the door shut on any Sixers comeback.
With the game hanging in the balance and the Philadelphia crowd roaring, Tatum remained calm. He stepped into his shots. He trusted his mechanics. He delivered.
When the Sixers cut the lead to four with under two minutes remaining, Tatum answered with a step-back three. When they got within three, he hit another. He was relentless.
Brown Provides the Firepower
It wasn’t just Tatum who flexed his playoff experience Friday. Jaylen Brown was also huge to keep the Celtics in the game in the fourth quarter. Brown finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists. While it was an imperfect night with six turnovers, Brown left his imprint on the game in the fourth quarter.
Brown attacked the rim when the Celtics needed baskets. He crashed the offensive glass. He played with a physicality that the Sixers could not match.
His driving layup with three minutes remaining gave Boston a six-point cushion. His free throws in the final minute sealed the win.
The Celtics’ Response: Answering Every Run
The Celtics fended off the Sixers for the majority of the night after grabbing a double-digit lead in the first half. Philadelphia held the lead at multiple points in the second half, but Boston always had a response to any Sixers run.
When Tyrese Maxey hit a three to cut the lead to one, Tatum answered. When VJ Edgecombe scored on a fast break, Brown responded. When the crowd got loud, the Celtics got quiet — and then got louder.
That is the mark of a veteran team. The Celtics did not panic. They did not fold. They absorbed the punches and punched back.
The Series Shift: Boston in Control
That allowed the C’s to take the 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for 7 p.m. Sunday back in Philly.
The Celtics have home-court advantage again. They have won two straight games. They have all the momentum.
But the series is not over. The Sixers are tough at home. They will not go away quietly.
The Celtics need one more win in Philadelphia to take a commanding 3-1 lead. They can close out the series in Boston.
But first, they have to handle business on the road.
The Verdict: Tatum Delivers When It Matters Most
Jayson Tatum has been criticized in the past for disappearing in big moments. He has heard the noise. He has read the articles.
On Friday night, he silenced the critics.
Twenty-five points. Seven assists. Five three-pointers. A fourth-quarter takeover.
The Celtics needed their superstar to be a superstar. He was.
Now, they are one win away from taking complete control of the series.
Game 4 is Sunday. The Sixers will be desperate. The crowd will be loud. The stakes will be high.
Tatum will be ready.
And if he plays like he did in Game 3, the Celtics will be moving on.