PHILADELPHIA — The Boston Celtics entered Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday night with a 2-1 series lead and the opportunity to seize control of their first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, they had already delivered a statement performance, cruising to a commanding 128-96 victory that pushed them within one win of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Joel Embiid’s return from an appendectomy provided the 76ers with an emotional boost and energized the home crowd early. For a moment, it appeared Philadelphia might generate the momentum shift they desperately needed. That moment never materialized.
Instead, the Celtics took full command of the building. Payton Pritchard erupted for a playoff career-high 32 points off the bench, including six three-pointers, while Jayson Tatum shook off a slow start to post 30 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists in a dominant second-half display. Jaylen Brown contributed 20 points and seven rebounds, giving Boston three 20-point scorers in a game that grew increasingly lopsided.
As the Celtics pulled away, the familiar chant echoed through the arena — one with history on both sides. After the 76ers advanced past the Orlando Magic in the play-in, Philadelphia fans had called out “We Want Boston.” On Sunday, with Boston firmly in control and the Sixers searching for answers, Celtics fans inside the arena flipped the script.
“We Want Boston.”
The taunt carried extra weight in a hostile environment, turning a Philadelphia rallying cry into a Boston celebration. Celtics fans had traveled well and made their presence felt, transforming the moment into one that favored the visitors.
After the game, Jaylen Brown was asked if he heard the chant.
“How could you not?” Brown replied with a straightforward acknowledgment.
Brown didn’t stop there. He used the moment to send a direct message to the Celtics faithful, emphasizing their road strength and urging them to show up for the closeout opportunity back home.
“Celtics fans, we travel well. So, you know, we got another win and kind of finish this thing up back at home. So make sure everybody shows up,” Brown said.
The Celtics’ dominance wasn’t limited to one area. Boston set a franchise playoff record with 24 made three-pointers and controlled the glass with a decisive 51-30 rebounding advantage. Their bench, led by Pritchard’s explosive scoring, combined for significant production that helped quiet the Philadelphia crowd and prevented any meaningful comeback attempt.
Embiid finished with a team-high 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his return, but the Celtics made life difficult for everyone around him. Philadelphia’s offense struggled to find rhythm, and Boston repeatedly extended possessions and turned defensive stops into scoring opportunities. A highlight-reel chase-down block by Derrick White on Tyrese Maxey symbolized the night: whenever the Sixers threatened to spark a run, Boston was there to snuff it out.
Tatum and Brown were far from their most efficient in the first half, yet the Celtics still built a comfortable 56-38 halftime lead. Once the Jays found their rhythm after the break, the outcome was never seriously in doubt.
Now the series shifts back to TD Garden for Game 5 on Tuesday night. With a 3-1 lead, the Celtics are in firm control — but as Brown and the team understand, control is not the same as closure.
Boston has the chance to finish the series at home and advance. The message from the floor in Philadelphia was clear: Celtics fans travel well, and they’re expected to pack the Garden and help deliver the knockout blow.
The 76ers showed resilience in Embiid’s return, but the Celtics responded with a bombshell performance that left little doubt about their superiority in this series. One more win stands between Boston and the next round. The stage is set for a potential closeout — and after hearing the chant loud and clear in enemy territory, the Celtics and their fans are ready to answer it where it matters most: at home.