Joel Embiid returns but Boston's Pritchard, Tatum story, Celtics cruise to win, 3-1 series lead
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers less than three weeks after an appendectomy but struggled to integrate effectively, leading to a disjointed offense in a critical first-round playoff game against the Boston Celtics.
- The Celtics dominated the game, with Payton Pritchard scoring 32 points off the bench and Jayson Tatum adding 30 points and 11 assists, helping Boston build a lead that never fell below double digits.
- Boston led 129-96, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead as the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5, putting the 76ers on the brink of elimination.
- Philadelphia’s offense faltered early, shooting just 33.3% in the first half and struggling defensively as Boston posted a 139.1 offensive rating, while Tyrese Maxey deferred too much to Embiid initially.
- Coach Nick Nurse faces a critical challenge to unify the 76ers and improve their performance on both ends before the next game to avoid an early playoff exit.
