Celtics roll to large Game 2 win over 76ers

Jaylen Brown scored 25 factors and the Boston Celtics rolled previous the Philadelphia 76ers 121-87 on Wednesday night time, spoiling the return of reigning league MVP Joel Embiid.

The Celtics tied the sequence at one sport apiece because the Eastern Conference semifinals sequence shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.

Malcolm Brogdon added 23 factors, connecting on six of Boston’s 20 3-pointers. Derrick White and Marcus Smart added 15 factors apiece. Jayson Tatum performed a lot of the sport in foul hassle and was held to seven factors.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls to his gamers in the course of the first half of Game 2 within the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff sequence in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Boston.  (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston ratcheted up its protection and restricted a 76ers crew that hit 17 3-pointers in its Game 1 win to only 6 of 30 from past the arc on Wednesday. The Celtics led by as many as 36 factors within the fourth quarter.

Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 16 factors. Embiid completed with 15 factors, three rebounds and 5 blocks in his first sport again from a sprained proper knee that brought about him to overlook the ultimate sport of the 76ers’ first-round sweep of Brooklyn. He additionally sat out Philadelphia’s Game 1 win on Monday.

Embiid’s return got here a day after being voted MVP for the primary time.

He was cleared to play by medical doctors and coaching workers following a pregame, on-court exercise. That was after he did some gentle work in the course of the 76ers’ morning shootaround.

Tatum picked up three fouls within the first half. He was referred to as for his fourth on the 7:34 mark of the third quarter when he knocked Harden to the ground whereas attempting to struggle by a display.

It compelled him to play rather less aggressively and helped Philadelphia lower what had been an 18-point Boston result in 73-60 with simply over 4 minutes to play within the third quarter.

Boston Celtics heart Al Horford (42) celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers in the course of the first half of Game 2 within the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff sequence, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Boston.  (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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But Tatum’s teammates picked up the slack, main the best way because the Celtics closed the quarter on a 19-5 run to get it again as much as 92-65 getting into the fourth.

Embiid began slowly offensively, however with the 76ers struggling to make photographs from the skin, he made an nearly instant affect defensively.

First, he blocked an early shot by Smart after which compelled White to regulate one other try. Embiid had 5 blocks his first 13 minutes of motion.

But his conditioning was noticeably missing as he lumbered into units at instances. He performed simply shy of seven minutes within the first quarter earlier than getting his first relaxation. He returned for the ultimate 1:05 of the interval.

Embiid knocked down his first subject purpose of the night time. a jumper over Grant Williams, with 21.4 seconds left earlier than tripping as he backpedaled again down the court docket. He shortly rose to his toes. He completed the primary half with 13 factors, going 7 of 8 from the free throw line.

Philadelphia 76ers heart Joel Embiid passes the ball whereas lined by Boston Celtics heart Al Horford (42) in the course of the first half of Game 2 within the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff sequence, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

TIP-INS

76ers: Shot 1 of 13 from the 3-point line within the first half. … Didn’t get their first offensive rebound till the 9:41 mark of the second quarter

Celtics: Tatum’s seven factors marked the primary time he was held to single digits in a playoff sport since Game 2 of Boston’s 2021 first-round sequence in opposition to Brooklyn, when he had 9. … Boston led 57-49 at halftime. … Had simply three turnovers within the opening 24 minutes.