Final: Celtics 110, Sixers 107 - Tatum hits game-winner to survive in Philadelphia

Game 61: Celtics (-1.5) at Philadelphia 76ers, 8:30 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, ABC

Injuries: 

Boston: OUT- Danilo Gallinari

Philadelphia: OUT- Dewayne Dedmon (hip)

Sixers probable starters: James Harden, De’Anthony Melton, PJ Tucker, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid. 

Refs: Marc Davis (#8), Karl Lane (#77), Marat Kogut (#32)

Last time they played: Celtics 106, Sixers 99- February 8:  The Celtics came into the game shorthanded, with Marcus Smart out with his ankle injury and both Robert Williams (ankle) and Al Horford (knee) late scratches. The supporting cast stepped up in a big way early, with Grant Williams and Blake Griffin carrying the offense with hot 3-point shooting in the first half. The Celtics fell down early but managed to take a lead with Joel Embiid on the bench. They held onto that lead through the third quarter, even after losing Jaylen Brown at halftime with a facial contusion in a collision with Jayson Tatum. The Celtics built that lead to 10 in the fourth and were able to withstand Philly’s late run to hold on for an impressive win.

A little something about this game: The Sixers have won five games in a row since that loss to the Celtics, including a comeback against the Memphis Grizzlies in their last game two nights ago. It was their fifth win this season after trailing by 15 points. Embiid put up 27 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, and six blocks -- after missing the morning shootaround with a non-COVID illness and foot soreness. A Celtics win will give them the tiebreaker and a four game lead over Philadelphia with 21 games left, essentially eliminating the Sixers from the top seed (the tiebreaker basically makes it a five game lead, which would require the Sixers to be almost perfect down the stretch if Boston keeps winning at its season pace).

How the Celtics win: The bench will have to continue dominating, which they can certainly do against the Philly bench. If Boston’s starters can play the Sixers starters to a standstill, then Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White have a chance to be the difference-makers. Even depleted, the Celtics bench outscored Philly’s 41-21. I can easily see that happening again. 

The Celtics starters, meanwhile, can really help themselves defensively by putting Embiid in defensive actions and tiring him out. He played 39 minutes on a sore foot against Memphis, so test his ability to move by spreading him out and getting him to guard the perimeter. 

Defensively, it’s about pushing Embiid off his spot and defending without fouling. He is easily frustrated, so use the depth and throw multiple bodies at him. Mix up the double teams so he doesn't recognize a pattern. He can be baited into turnovers. Do the work early to keep him from setting up where he wants. If he’s settling for jumpers, then the Celtics will have a great chance of winning. 

How the Sixers win: They’ll need a real team effort, which includes Tobias Harris. The question for them is whether they’ve already used his good effort for the week. He gave them almost nothing offensively in the last game against the Celtics, so stay home on him and don’t let him beat you. I know that might sound counterintuitive with Harden and Embiid on the team, but those guys have a strong chance of getting theirs no matter what. The Celtics can still beat the Sixers if that happens, but not if Harris or Tyrese Maxey go off for 20, or if Georges Niang bangs a bunch of uncontested 3-pointers. It’s all about the other guys for the Sixers. If they can get going, they can win. 

Things I’m looking for: 

- Grant Williams impact: He had a great game against Embiid the last time around. The Celtics will need him to throw his strength at Embiid again as part of the defensive plan. Williams and Horford are both critical to beating the Sixers. I have no question about what Horford will bring. 

- The one-two punches: I couldn't be more confident in what the bench can do against Philly, so if the Celtics one-two punch of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can out-duel the Embiid/Harden combination, then this could actually end up being an easy game. But this can’t be a my turn/your turn situation. This has to be an attacking, ball-moving, hit them from all angles kind of thing where the Sixers are tested mentally. I doubt Philadelphia’s ability to withstand Boston’s blitzes without getting frustrated. 

- The random killer: Last time it was Blake Griffin who was dared to beat the Sixers. Who in the Celtics current lineup will be dared to do the same? Marcus Smart? Robert Williams? I don’t even think this player needs to do it with his scoring. With a fully healthy team, that guy just needs to attack the space given to him and let one of the other stars move to receive a pass. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.