The Sixers showed some fight in their final game of the season in the first half, but much like every game in this series, weren’t able to sustain it for 48 minutes. Kemba Walker had a game-high 32 points for the Celtics while Jayson Tatum added 28 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to go along with a team-high 4 assists. Joel Embiid finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers but much of his damage came in the first half, as he struggled with his shot (0-of-4 from 3-point range) and effort on the defensive end, allowing Boston to outscore the Sixers by double digits in the second half. The win gives Boston a 4-0 series sweep, the second straight first round sweep for Brad Stevens in Boston. It is also Kemba Walker’s first playoff series win in his career and the seventh series sweep in franchise history for Boston.
First Half Notes
TURNING POINT
The Sixers were able to withstand a hot shooting start from the Celtics and turn the game back into a back-and-forth affair with a 15-5 run in the final five minutes of the first quarter.
TWO UP
Kemba Walker: The All-Star carried the Celtics offense for the second straight game early on, scoring a team-high 20 points in the first half on just seven field goal attempts. The effort gives him three straight postseason games with 20+ points for the first time in his career.
Jayson Tatum: The third-year forward bounced back from a tough Game 3 to lead the Celtics with 7 rebounds in the first half, along with 9 points, a pair of assists and a block.
TWO DOWN
Fouling: The Sixers were on a historic pace for free throws (19 attempts) in the first quarter, as the Celtics defense scrambled with rotations and solid positioning. Philadelphia ended up taking more free throws (19) than the Celtics took shot attempts from the field (18) in the opening quarter, helping them overcome a hot shooting start by the C’s.
Forcing turnovers: The Celtics have been punishing the Sixers into a lot of mistakes in this series but that defensive pressure was not prevalent on Sunday. The Sixers turned the ball over just one time in the first half, the best mark by a Celtics opponent this season over 24 minutes.
TOP PLAY
.@jaytatum0 wasn't slowing down for anyone pic.twitter.com/Vrb5cxG5mC
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) August 23, 2020
WHO: Celtics (3-0) vs. Sixers (0-3)
WHEN: 1:00 EST
WHERE: Orlando
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TV: ABC
PG: Kemba Walker
SG: Marcus Smart
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Daniel Theis
G: Josh Richardson
PF: Al Horford
C: Joel Embiid
- Gordon Hayward left the Orlando bubble on Friday night to rehab his ankle off site and be with his pregnant wife Robyn who is due to give birth next month to the couple's fourth child. Hayward had planned to leave the bubble for the birth of the child in September but now he will do his recovery off site and take advantage of being with family before returning to Orlando if the Celtics make it deep into the East playoffs. "The plan of attack from what I’ve been told is when he’s closing in on being ready to play, he’ll be back," Brad Stevens said.
- Brad Stevens on the challenge of closing out a 3-0 series: "You have to play same as any other game – play to win the next possession. It’s very, very difficult to win one NBA game, so you can’t focus on anything else, just play to win one possession, do the best you can and move on."
- Javonte Green remains sidelined for the second straight game with a sprained knee. Carsen Edwards will be active in his place.
- Sixers head coach Brett Brown spoke about the possibility that this could be his last game as coach of the Sixers if the Celtics are able to pull off the sweep. “I understand the circumstance,” Brown said Friday night. “My job is to focus on what I really can do. My players deserve that. I’ve been in the city seven years and tonight’s loss is what’s most on my mind. My effort truly is to try to find a way to win, and keep this series alive. Do my job for my players.”