The luck of the Irish was certainly on the side of the Boston Celtics at points during their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite losing two games at home, the Celtics were able to force a Game 7 back in Boston after winning on the road in Game 6. This time, they were able to hold serve.
The Celtics demolished the 76ers in Game 7, 112-88. A third-quarter burst turned what was a competitive first half into a laugher in the end. Boston outscored Philadelphia 33-10 in the third quarter, led by Jayson Tatum.
Tatum has had a few duds in this series, but Sunday afternoon’s performance was anything but that. He poured in a Game 7 record 51 points, breaking the record that Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry set only two weeks ago in the first round against the Sacramento Kings.
“I was relieved just to get another chance. Our season could have been over after Game 6,” said Tatum. “It definitely was on my mind that I had played as bad as it could get, for 43 minutes.
“We had a saying: ‘It’s only up from here.’”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
He certainly picked a great time to turn things around, helping carry the team into the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. This will be a rematch and trilogy against the Miami Heat, as the Celtics lost in the Orlando Bubble in 2020 before defeating them last year.
The Boston defense got the job done in Game 7 after being picked apart by Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey at different points in the series. All three didn’t perform up to their capabilities, shooting a combined 13-of-41.
“They did a really good job,” Harden said of Boston’s Game 7 defense. “Robert Williams was in the paint, you know what I mean? We made him pay early, and then we kind of went away from what was working and kind of everything slowed down.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Philadelphia did find some success earlier in the game, as they led by as many as nine points in the first quarter. P.J. Tucker was surprisingly carrying the scoring load early on, but that wasn’t sustainable. With their key contributors struggling, the 76ers were run off the court.
“I thought we had the right group. I really did,” said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, who was on the Boston bench when the Celtics won it all in 2008. “We played great all year and this loss absolutely diminishes what we did this year in some way. … I think this team is headed right. I thought we took another step this season. And then tonight I think we took a step backward. But that’s OK. That happens, too.”
What could be a long offseason is about to get underway for the 76ers. There will be some questions about roster construction around Embiid and Harden, and if Harden will even be returning to the City of Brotherly Love.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
The Celtics, on the other hand, are preparing to climb that hill one more time in the Eastern Conference Finals. It certainly won’t be an easy task taking down the Heat, who have been excellent in the postseason despite dealing with injuries.
Boston knows they cannot let their guard down, as they did against an undermanned 76ers team at the start of the series and it cost them. If Tatum is as locked in against Miami as he was in Game 7 against Philadelphia, the Celtics have a great chance of advancing to the NBA Finals for a second straight year.
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