NBA Playoffs: Celtics annihilate 76ers to tie series, spoil Joel Embiid’s return

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Boston Celtics weren’t willing to give up another game on their home floor and crushed the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2, 121-87, to equalize their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup at 1-1 last May 4, 2023.

Boston not only pulled off a dominant win but they also spoiled the return of the newly-crowned NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Joel Embiid who missed the last stretch of games for Philadelphia due to a knee injury.

It was also Celtics from the get-go as the C’s showed a much-improved shooting led by Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon who cooked the 76ers’ perimeter defense for three-straight quarters.

After ending the half with an eight-point lead, Boston sent an early exclamation point when they demolished Philadelphia in the third quarter by 19 points, 35-16.

The trio of Brown, Brogdon, and Marcus Smart outscored the whole Philadelphia squad in the crucial third quarter that swelled their lead to as much as 36 points.

When the 76ers didn’t find any shooting rhythm in the first four minutes of the final canto, head coach Doc Rivers immediately waved the white flag and subbed out all of his starters.

Brown top-scored for the Celtics and dropped 25 big points alongside four assists and three rebounds while Brogdon added 23 markers and six rebounds.

Aside from Boston’s waxing hot offense, their balanced attack also doomed the 76ers as three more players scored in double figures.

Derrick White and Marcus Smart chipped in 15 points apiece while stabilizer power forward Grant Williams contributed 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia only got 12 points from James Harden who carried them to a Game 1 victory when he put up 45 points on board including the game-winning three-pointer.

Embiid looked flat in his return from injury and only tallied 15 points and a shocking three rebounds while Tobias Harris got 16.

The 76ers will look to take the first game on their home court as they meet again with the Celtics in Game 3 on May 6, 2023.