Everything you need to know about the Sixers' 115-109 win over the Celtics with BSJ insight and analysis:
Box Score
HEADLINE
TURNING POINT
The Celtics had a chance to tie the game after getting the ball back, trailing by 3 with 25 seconds remaining after a pair of Embiid free throws. However, Jayson Tatum threw an ill-advised pass that did not connect with Jaylen Brown, who slipped on his way to the ball. The turnover gave the ball back to Philly and ruined the C’s best shot at tying the game after a furious rally before the final minute.
TWO UP
Kemba Walker in the first half: The point guard had his way against the Sixers defense, erupting for 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the first half. He scored 65 points over three halves when you include his 44-point performance in Indiana on Wednesday night.
C's points in the paint: The Celtics were giving up size to the Sixers at pretty much every position on the floor Thursday night, but they managed to dominate the paint in the first half, nearly doubling up the Sixers with a 32-22 edge on points in the paint. The constant attacking mentality by the wings along with Walker’s scoring explosion and some efficient scoring from the centers gave the C’s a surprising 48-44 edge on the night inside.
TWO DOWN
Jaylen Brown in the second half: The swingman played a game-high 41 minutes but was a non-factor offensively for much of the contest, scoring just eight points on 3-of-9 shooting, including 0-of-4 in the second half.
Jayson Tatum: The swingman did his best to stay away from the trees in the Sixers paint, but it produced plenty of low-quality floaters for the third-year forward. He missed all seven shots in the third quarter, and 12 of 15 to start the game, dragging down what was an otherwise efficient offense in the process before making a couple big 3s late in the game. He finished the night 5-of-18 from the field.
TOP PLAY
Celtics bench ROASTING Enes Kanter for how he runs @MickstapeShow pic.twitter.com/jmTXHKlSBr
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 13, 2019
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
The Celtics' rotation has finally been tightened up, but help is still needed: Carsen Edwards getting sent up to Maine to get some extended reps was a good sign on this front pregame, but Brad Stevens finally appeared to take Wednesday’s ugly loss in Indiana as a sign that he should feature a tighter rotation. He essentially stuck with eight players in the first half, playing Javonte Green for one very brief three-minute stint while leaning on the wings for close to 35 minutes. Marcus Smart will be returning to the fold soon to help take a bigger share of Semi Ojeleye and Brad Wanamaker’s minutes, but for now, this group has seven players that should be suiting up regularly at the 1-4 spots (starters, Smart, Ojeleye, Wanamaker) along with Kanter/Theis/R. Williams splitting minutes at the five. That formula helped the C’s maintain their offensive rhythm against a tough Sixers defense, but they still could use alternatives to Ojeleye/Wanamaker against elite teams. That should be the target next month.
Celtics had a far better plan with Kemba for this time out against Philly, but it looked like he ran out of gas in second half: Opening Night felt a long way away in this one, as Walker got back to his normal routine of roasting the Sixers defense, something he did regularly with the Hornets for the past few seasons. With Walker feeling comfortable with his new team now 20 games into the season, the C’s did a much better job in this one of putting him in great spots to attack the defense, moving him off the ball and finding mismatches across the floor. The end result was a 21-point first half and the C’s playing some of their best offense of the year against a top-5 NBA defense. The ride came to an end when Walker ran out of gas in the second half (1-of-8 FG) but the C's offense looked far better this time around against an elite Sixers D, even with Tatum and Brown struggling. That's a step forward for the big picture.