Final: Celtics 128, 76ers 101 -- Tatum leads blowout for C's

The 76ers looked ready to make life look tough for the Celtics without Gordon Hayward after jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics however answered with a counterpunch that knocked the Sixers out, potentially for good. Boston outscored Philly 71-42 in the middle two quarters on their way to a dominant double-digit win. Tatum led the charge with 33 points and a career-high 8 3-point makes in the win while also adding a team-high 5 assists. Kemba Walker added 22 points and Jaylen Brown 20 points that was too much for the Sixers to handle defensively as they allowed 100 points over the final three quarters. Joel Embiid had a team-high 34 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers but got little help from his high paid supporting cast as Al Horford and Tobias Harris combined for just 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting from the field. The win gives the Celtics a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

TURNING POINT

The Celtics went on a 34-10 run midway through the first half, erasing an early 14-point lead by the Sixers on their way to an eight-point halftime lead thanks to the domination of Jayson Tatum and the bench unit. Tatum led the way with his scoring but steady defense from the likes of Wanamaker, Langford and Grant Williams helped to take the Sixers defense out of rhythm.

TWO UP

Jayson Tatum: The All-Star continued to have his way with the Sixers after a brief hiccup of foul trouble in the first quarter. He finished with 18 points in the first half and was lights out from 3-point range, knocking down five of his six attempts from deep. Even with the Sixers move to insert Matisse Thybulle into the starting five, it hasn’t done much to slow him down.

Kemba Walker in the second quarter: After getting some treatment on his neck in the first quarter, Walker came back into the game in the second quarter and help the Celtics unit sustain their run. He scored 13 of Boston’s 38 points in the frame, while also snapping out of an 0-of-8 3-point shooting slump during the series with his first make from beyond the arc.

TWO DOWN

Daniel Theis: The Sixers have virtually ignored the big man at center so far with Joel Embiid and he hasn’t been able to take advantage. He missed his first two shots from the field and was hesitant to take anymore from the top of the key afterwards, failing to make the Sixers pay for the lack of attention they gave him. He ended up playing just six minutes in the first half with the bulk of his minutes going to Enes Kanter and Grant Williams

Marcus Smart: The gritty defender continues to struggle with his shot, going 1-of-5 from the field in the first half. He is 1-of-10 in the series so far and will need to become more of a shotmaker to help the C’s scoring load with Gordon Hayward out.

• The Sixers will start Matisse Thybulle over Horford at power forward in an attempt to slow down


• There is no set plan yet for Gordon Hayward's recovery plan in the bubble according to Brad Stevens but the head coach spoke about Hayward's reaction to the injury on Tuesday. "I think we can certainly do a lot here but all that is stuff is to be determined. We haven’t gotten into that stuff or that conversation. He’s bummed, as you can imagine. Put in a lot of time and effort, and you do so for this time, for the playoffs. That’s what we all look forward to and we’ve been really lucky thus far in the bubble to have good health and, of course, Game 1 we don’t. But that’s part of it. We’ve lived this before and we’re going to have to have other people step up. That’s why you have a team."


• With Hayward out, look for Tremont Waters or Carsen Edwards to be added to the active 13-man roster.


• Marcus Smart spoke about how he expects his role to change while filing in for Hayward in a starting capacity. "I think it will change a little bit more, especially with that starting group. There will be a lot more emphasis on Jayson, Jaylen and Kemba, I'll be the odd man out where I have to be ready to knock down shots right away, as (opposed to) coming off the bench and trying. to ease into the game. In that aspect, it changes. But I still got to be the defensive pest that I am, the best defensive player in the league that I am, and continue to be there for my team."


• With Hayward out, there will be on pressure for the younger players to contribute and take up some of Hayward's 35 minutes per game. Smart talked about what the team expects out of the younger group. "We're doing everything we can as the older guys, the guys that's been here, to really get those guys ready on what to look for and what to expect when they get in the game. Just be ready and not get caught by surprise. The way they've been handling it, the way that they've been preparing has been very professional and we applaud them for it. We know they're not going to be perfect just like we're not going to be perfect, but as long as we are on the same page and playing hard and communicating out there, we think we'll be all right."
  


• From earlier today: Five adjustments to watch for as Celtics begin life without Gordon Hayward vs. 76ers