The Celtics took care of their slow-starting ways on Thursday night but they couldn’t sustain it against Joel-Embiid-less Sixers squad. Boston blew a 10 -point first half lead on their way to being outscored 61-43 in the second half on their way to a 109-98 loss against the Sixers. Kemba Walker shook off a sprained thumb to finish with a team-high 26 points while Marcus Smart added a season-high 24 points but the visitors got little else from their top wings. Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum combined to shoot just 10-of-36 from the field, scoring just 29 points in the midst of Boston’s fifth game in seven nights.
Josh Richardson had a game-high 29 points for the hosts while Al Horford was big down the stretch with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists as the Sixers clinched the season series over Boston with the win. Boston now has its first three-game losing streak of the year and they will look to snap it at home on Saturday night against the Pelicans back at the TD Garden.
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Daniel Theis
G: Josh Richardson
PF: Mike Scott
C: Al Horford
- Romeo Langford remains out and did not travel with the team due to illness. Tacko Fall is expected to be in uniform for the second straight game as additional center depth.
- A Celtics' loss would give the season series to the Sixers, who are 2-0 against the C's already this season.
- Joel Embiid has been declared out due to a finger injury. The Sixers are 3-4 this season when he is not in the lineup.