With Jaylen Brown sidelined with a right hamstring injury, the pressure was on the C’s youngsters to take on additional responsibility with another top scorer out of the fold.
Terry Rozier (29 points) and Jayson Tatum (28 points) rose to the challenge on that front, both finishing with postseason career-highs for the second straight game to pace one of the C’s best offensive performances of the playoffs.
Al Horford added 26 points against an overwhelmed Sixers defense, that had consistent defensive breakdowns after six days of rest.
WHO: Celtics (0-0) vs. Sixers (0-0)
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 100.7 WZLX
TV: TNT
Celtics
PG: Terry Rozier
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes
Sixers
PG: Ben Simmons
SG: J.J. Redick
F: Dario Saric
F: Robert Covington
C: Joel Embiid
Third Quarter Notes
- A string of back and forth runs early in the quarter kept the Sixers from making any serious headway. Every time the Sixers would cut the double-digit lead to six, the C's would counter with a couple quick buckets of their own.
- Joel Embiid started getting going in the post against Baynes with a flurry of impressive post moves. He's got eight points in the first six minutes of the frame and a game-high 21 points.
- The shooting adventures of Marcus Smart continued early in the quarter as he kept firing after going 0-of-5 in the first half. He has hit a couple, but he's still shooting 25 percent from the field since returning from thumb injury.
- Al Horford continues to be unstoppable in this contest. He is 8-of-10 from the field with a team-high 21 points through three.
- Celtics caught fire shooting in the second quarter, going 59 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
- They repeatedly put pressure on the Sixers stretch bigs and wings, by nailing 5-of-10 shots from downtown, all from different shooters.
- Al Horford played one of his best quarters of the series, scoring 11 points in just seven minutes. He is doing a great job targeting mismatches and pulling his man out of the paint.
- Jayson Tatum has a game-high 16 points at halftime, on 5-of-8 shooting. Easily the best game of the postseason thus far.
- Marcus Smart continues to struggle shooting the ball, 0-of-5 from field. He appeared to aggravate his thumb and took a shot to the groin area from Joel Embiid at the end of the half.
- Sixers shooting a paltry 20 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. Embiid and Redick are the only two players in double figures.
- C's throwing a variety of different defenders at Ben Simmons who has a game-high four turnovers. He's been hesitant to find his shot against the C's physicality.
- Horford opens up the game guarding Simmons, as has been case in last few matchups. He's kept him away form the rim over first six minutes.
- Jayson Tatum has taken advantage of J.J. Redick guarding him for a couple strong drives to his right.
- Sixers have made it a priority to keep Rozier under control by putting one of their best wings on him in Covington.
- Sloppy start for C's with turnovers (three)
- Sixers open game 4-of-14 from field, while missing a ton of wide open 3s (1-of-6)
- Rozier really got going when he got a chance against Marco Belinelli coming off the bench. The athletic guard went for 10 points in the first quarter and dished out one of the best lobs of the season as he got separation from the Sixers backcourt.
- Baynes has been going minute for minute with Embiid thus far.
- Jaylen Brown will not play Game 1 due to a sore left hamstring. He did not play the second half of Game 7 against the Bucks due to the injury. Marcus Smart will start in his place at one of the guard spots.
- The Celtics won the season series between the two squads by a 3-1 margin, but the two teams haven't played each other since mid-January.
- The Sixers have won 20 of their last 21 games dating back to the regular season
- Aron Baynes is back in the starting five in place of Semi Ojeleye. He'll spend the majority of his night guarding Joel Embiid in the post.