The Boston Celtics had already taken the life out of the building by the time halftime arrived Sunday night in Philadelphia. Boston led the Philadelphia 76ers 56-38 at the break, despite Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown still searching for rhythm. Joel Embiid was back. The home crowd had reason to believe early. The 76ers had a chance to change the tone of the series.
It did not come to fruition.
By the end of the night, the Celtics had a 128-96 win, a 3-1 series lead, and a chance to close the series at TD Garden. Payton Pritchard delivered the biggest playoff scoring night of his career. Tatum found his rhythm after halftime. Boston hit 24 threes and owned the glass.
After the game, one of Philadelphia’s stars gave an honest assessment on his own performance.
76ers Star Gets Honest After Celtics Win
Tyrese Maxey finished Game 4 with 22 points. That number did not tell the full story.
At halftime, Maxey had attempted just three shots. For a player with his speed, scoring burden, and importance to Philadelphia’s offense, that was never going to be enough against a Celtics team built to punish empty possessions.
After the loss, Maxey did not try to dress it up.
“That absolutely can’t happen. That’s just unacceptable by me. It wasn’t meant to happen that way. We can’t win basketball games with that happening and I take full responsibility on that one,” Maxey said.
The 76ers need Maxey forcing decisions. They need him attacking space, bending the defense, and creating the kind of movement that opens the floor for everyone else.
The Celtics did not let that happen early.
Boston kept Maxey from settling into the game, and by the time he became more involved, the 76ers were already chasing. Maxey took responsibility afterward, but the Celtics earned credit for making that first half as uncomfortable as it was.
GettyTyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Nick Nurse Weighs In on Celtics’ Maxey Defense
Nick Nurse also weighed in on the Celtics defense and Maxey.
The 76ers coach acknowledged that Boston has made Maxey work so far in the series. The Celtics have used different matchups, sent bodies toward him, and closed his space quickly enough to keep him from getting fully comfortable.
“They’ve done a good job on him … they put several matchups on him … they’re closing down on him pretty hard … but I’m pretty happy with the looks he’s got and the amount of attempts,” Nurse said.
The Celtics did not need to erase Maxey completely. They just needed to disrupt him long enough.
That was the difference in Game 4. Embiid’s return gave Philadelphia an emotional lift before tipoff, but Boston kept the 76ers from turning it into real control. The Celtics crowded driving lanes, protected the glass, and made Philadelphia work too hard for rhythm.
GettySixers’ head coach Nick Nurse and Tyrese Maxey.
Boston Can Close the Series at Home
Now Game 5 goes back to TD Garden on Tuesday night.
That gives Boston a chance to finish the series before Philadelphia can create another swing. Boston has already shown it can make Philadelphia uncomfortable even with Embiid available. It has also shown it can survive slow starts from its stars when the rest of the roster gives enough.
Pritchard did that in Game 4. Derrick White did it defensively. The Celtics’ rebounding did it across the night.
Final Word for the Celtics
Maxey did not hide from what happened. Three shot attempts in a half was not enough. He knew it. The 76ers knew it. The Celtics knew it too.
That is the part that should matter most for Boston. This was not just a rough offensive night from Philadelphia. It was a game shaped by Celtics pressure, Celtics discipline, and Celtics control.
Now the series goes back to TD Garden.
One more win ends it.
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