The Celtics cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 Sunday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Game 4 of this best-of-7 first round matchup.
Payton Pritchard finished with 32 points on 12-of-21 from the field, including going 6-of-12 from deep, to go along with five assists -- becoming just the third Celtic in franchise history to score at least 30 off the bench in a playoff game behind Kevin McHale (twice) and Eddie House.
"He's been on a journey since he's gotten in the NBA and he's started, he's not started, has come off the bench but throughout it he's kept a level of professionalism, consistency, but like mental toughness," Joe Mazzulla said during his postgame press conference. "We're at our best when he's aggressive and he's bought into any role that's necessary to winning and just cares about competing."
Jayson Tatum added 30 points (5-of-10 from 3), seven rebounds and 11 assists, while Jaylen Brown chipped in 20 points, seven rebounds to spoil the return of Joel Embiid and force the Sixers to the brink of elimination, as the Celtics take a commanding 3-1 lead.
Embiid played 34 minutes to which he recorded 26 points on 9-of-21 shooting, 10 rebounds and six assists in his series debut, while Tyrese Maxey had 22 points, six assists and Paul George notched 16 points for Philly.
Despite Embiid getting off to a fast start -- scoring the Sixers' first eight point, which included a two-handed slam-- in his first game since April 6 and 17 days post an appendectomy, the former league MVP missed his next seven-straight shots as, Boston held the home team to only 18-first quarter points and took a 56-38 advantage into the break.
"Embiid missed some shots he'll make. You're not going to be able to stop him. You just have to contain him," Mazzulla said of the 76ers' big man.
Tatum and Brown scored 22 of the C's 39 points in the third period, stretching their lead to 30. It was an historic night for Boston, as they ended the final frame on a 16-9 run and hit a franchise playoff record 24 3-pointers (also set a league record for a road playoff game) and the bench outscored the 76ers' second unit 57-24 in the victory.
With two 30-point wins in this series so far, the Celtics will look to be the first team in the Eastern Conference to advance when they host the Sixers in Game 5 on Tuesday at TD Garden. ESPN has the tip-off at 7:00 pm ET.
Game Notes:
Boston shot 48% from the field, including 24-of-53 (45%) from long range, while the 76ers were 41% from the floor and 9-of-30 (30%) from 3. The Celtics out-rebounded the home team 51-30 but were outscored in the paint 34-32. The C's had 28 assists on 42 baskets and 13 turnovers to Philadelphia's 25 dimes on 33 made shoots and turned the ball over nine times.
Joel Pavón
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