The Celtics are no strangers to comebacks. They’ve fought back from more double-digit deficits than any team in the league this year, including a 21-point comeback against this Sixers team during a regular-season game in London back in January.
The Celtics did the Sixers one better in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the TD Garden on Thursday night, erasing a 22-point deficit in the first half to push their way to a 108-103 victory and a 2-0 series lead. It was the biggest postseason comeback for Boston in franchise history since Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.
“It’s like a movie,” Marcus Smart admitted. “You only see these type of comebacks in movies.”
"Man, I've never seen TD Garden like it was tonight," Jaylen Brown added after scoring 13 points in his gritty return from a hamstring injury. "I think I'll remember that game forever. The way the crowd got behind us before the half. That last five minutes, man. The energy was insane. I don't think I'll ever forget that. Like that was the moment to definitely remember. Game 2, Philadelphia, 2018. For sure."
The Celtics ultimately closed the door on the Sixers by outscoring the visitors with a 20-10 run over the final five minutes of regulation, but that finishing touch would never have been there to begin with had it not been for an explosive 18-3 run in the closing minutes first half in which the hosts erased nearly all of a 20-point deficit in just under four minutes. The outburst allowed both teams to play on a level playing field for essentially the entire second half.
“It was one of those deals: we needed everybody engaged in the game and it was a special environment,” Brad Stevens said. “And the end of the first half gave us a chance.”
The man at the center of that chance was none other than Terry Rozier.
The 24-year-old guard did a little bit of everything like usual on Thursday night. He finished second on the team in points (20), second in rebounds (seven) and first in assists (nine). He turned the ball over zero times despite splitting time at point guard for the better part of his 38 minutes. Fittingly, it was all three facets of Rozier’s game that energized the C’s game-changing, 18-3 run in the final four minutes of the first half. Rozier was directly involved in 16 of the 18 points scored during that stretch.
Rozier the shooter
The point guard’s 3-point shooting has been at another level this postseason. He’s turned from an above-average outside shooter in the regular season, to a high-volume, elite shooter this postseason, making 43.8 percent from downtown despite attempting over eight shots from deep per game. That’s the third-highest number in the postseason this year, placing Rozier among names like James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
That quick-strike ability and accuracy was on full display during the run. He started things off knocking down a 3 after a kick out from Al Horford on the offensive glass and then took advantage of a retreating Sixers defense in transition to pull up for a 3. This is not a recommended look for most players on the break, but when you’re shooting 43 percent from downtown, it’s a high-percentage opportunity, particularly when there is offensive help on the glass.
Rozier attacking the paint
One major knock on Rozier has always been his limited finishing ability around the basket and that’s for good reason: he was one of the worst guards in the league at the rim this year (41 percent) as he struggles to remain under control on forays into the paint at times. That area was a major problem for him against the length of the Bucks defense in Round 1, but the Sixers don’t have many intimidating big men down low outside of Joel Embiid. That has helped Rozier gain some confidence attacking the rim (60 percent FG) in transition this series, using his quick first step to create space between defenders.
Euro Terry gets it done! pic.twitter.com/8Iiq3Io0l3
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 4, 2018
Rozier races down the court and finds Tatum on the lob! pic.twitter.com/6QDF7hs4HU
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 4, 2018
Simple 1-5 PNR action with Morris slashing the stunt to create a 2v1 advantage on the weakside (set is called "Thumbs Up"). With Tatum in the corner the stunt will be longer, so Embiid has to quickly recover. Gets beat on the closeout & triggers the rotation for the kickout 3. pic.twitter.com/F7bHV7Sqmz
— Ryan (@ry_nguyen) May 4, 2018