Everything you need to know about the Sixers’ 103-92 win over the Celtics in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis.
Box Score
HEADLINES
Sixers find life with lineup change: T.J. McConnell got the nod in place of a struggling Robert Covington to give the Sixers a more traditional point guard look within their starting five. The move paid immediate dividends, as the 24-year-old delivered a career-high 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while also dishing out a team-high five assists, bringing some energy and unpredictability to the Sixers offense in a must-win Game 4. McConnell helped Philadelphia overcome a tough shooting night (40 percent) by producing easy opportunities for himself and others, which took some pressure off of Joel Embiid (15 points) and Ben Simmons (19 points) in their matchups.
Turnover problems strike again: The Celtics had their usual poor road shooting night (41 percent), but they slowed themselves down even more with 15 turnovers on the night. The miscues, along with 16 offensive rebounds for the Sixers, produced a sizable edge in field-goal attempts for Philadelphia (94-75), which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game. Jayson Tatum finished with a team-high 20 points, while Marcus Morris added 17 points off the bench.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics were whistled for 12 fouls in the second quarter, compared to just one for Philadelphia and that disparity put the visitors in a heap of foul trouble for the remainder of the contest, as Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Marcus Morris and Jayson Tatum all entered intermission with three fouls. Philadelphia also finished the quarter out with a 15-5 run, putting the hosts up for good after the Celtics built a six-point lead midway through the frame.
TWO UP
Tatum: The rookie continues to wreak havoc against whoever the Sixers throw at him. He saw a lot more of Ben Simmons in Game 4 after Covington was benched in favor of McConnell. The C’s went to the forward early and often on the left wing and let him create off the dribble, which produced a parade of open jumpers and drives all night. He finished with a team-high 20 points, his sixth-straight playoff game scoring in double digits.
McConnell: The undersized guard played the game of his life with the season on the line for the Sixers, scoring a career-high 19 points, while adding seven rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers over a team-high 38 minutes. Brett Brown couldn't take him off the floor with his impact on both ends, as he routinely punished closeouts with a strong drive-and-kick game and made Terry Rozier look bad on defense on multiple occasions.
TWO DOWN
Officials: The Celtics earned a lot of whistles in the second quarter but a 12-1 deficit in one quarter is absurd. They called things tight against Boston, with a number of touch fouls over the course of the frame, but consistency was an issue as the Sixers appeared to get away with some similar physicality on the defensive end. It didn’t cost the C’s the game by any means (the free throw count was relatively even) but it helped keep the Sixers in the game during what was largely a lifeless offensive first half for them.
Greg Monroe: Brad Stevens hoped Monroe would breathe some life into the offense in the third quarter but he continues to be a net negative on that end of the floor, turning the ball over twice over six minutes. He’s been a turnover machine all postseason long (highest turnover rate on the roster) and that needs to change if he wants to see the floor more. His defensive limitations are troublesome enough without the turnover woes.
TOP PLAY
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— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 7, 2018