Payton Pritchard erupted for 32 points as Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers, 128-96, in Joel Embiid’s series debut.
The blowout win sparked reactions from fans as Boston grabbed a 3-1 series lead behind Pritchard and now has a chance to close out the first-round series at home.
Pritchard sparked the Boston Celtics off the bench with 32 points on 57 percent shooting, adding four rebounds and five assists in a key performance.
Tatum posted a double-double with 30 points and 11 assists, adding seven rebounds, while Brown contributed 20 points and seven boards as the duo carried a starting unit that managed just 21 points outside of them.
Embiid’s Return Couldn’t Save the Sixers
In his return, Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers with a team-high 26 points, adding 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double, along with six assists. Paul George contributed 16 points, while Tyrese Maxey finished with 22 points on 50 percent shooting along with six assists.
Embiid returned for the first time since undergoing an emergency appendectomy two and a half weeks ago, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. He was originally given a 4-6 week recovery timeline, making his return for Game 4 a surprise.
However, the Celtics were not fazed. They attacked Embiid on the defensive end, forcing him to move laterally and expend energy. The rust was evident, as Embiid turned the ball over five times and struggled to impact the game on the defensive glass.
A Decisive Victory
The Boston Celtics held the Philadelphia 76ers to just 18 first-quarter points and built an 18-point halftime lead behind eight points from Brown, five from Tatum and 18 from Pritchard.
Philadelphia couldn’t recover, trailing 95-74 after three quarters as Boston continued to run away with the win throughout the fourth, extending the lead to as much as 32 points in the final quarter.
The Celtics shot 52.3% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range, while holding the Sixers to just 41.6% shooting. Boston also dominated the glass, outrebounding Philadelphia 48-33.
The X-Factor: Payton Pritchard
Pritchard’s 32 points were a career playoff high. He was aggressive from the moment he entered the game, attacking the rim, pulling up from deep, and making plays for his teammates.
His energy was contagious. The Celtics’ bench outscored the Sixers’ bench 45-19, a margin that proved insurmountable for Philadelphia.
Pritchard has been a key contributor all season, but this was his signature playoff moment.
The Road Ahead
With a healthy Tatum back in the lineup, Boston is eyeing a return to the NBA Finals after its 2024 championship run, following last season’s Eastern Conference semifinal exit when Tatum went down in Game 4.
The winner of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers series will move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they’ll meet the victor of the No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks matchup, with that series tied 2-2.
Game 5 between Boston and Philadelphia is scheduled for Tuesday as the series shifts back to Boston.
The Verdict: One Win Away
The Celtics are one win away from advancing to the second round. They have home-court advantage. They have momentum. They have a healthy Tatum.
The Sixers have Embiid back, but he is not at 100%. They have Maxey, George, and a talented roster. But they have not been able to solve the Celtics’ defense.
Boston has held Philadelphia under 100 points in three of the four games.
The series is not over. But it is close.
Game 5 is Tuesday. The Celtics can close it out at home.
If they do, they will be one step closer to the ultimate goal: Banner 19. And with Pritchard playing like this, Tatum looking like himself, and Brown being Brown, they have to like their chances.