Shorthanded Sixers build 26-point lead but Celtics come roaring back for win

The Sixers’ were clicking on all cylinders for three quarter but the defending champs couldn’t miss in the fourth as the Celtics came away with a win.

Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination, right?

The Sixers, still down Joel Embiid and Paul George fell to the Boston Celtics 118-110 Sunday night. Philadelphia was in control for much of the night, building up a 26-point lead, but they blew it in about eight minutes of game time.

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with his fifth straight game of at least 30 points. He finished with 34 points and six assists, shooting 9-of-21 from the field. Guerschon Yabusele finished with 21 points and five rebounds.

Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 35.

Here are some thoughts from the Center.

First Quarter

• Not the prettiest of starts as the two teams combined to begin the game 2-of-10 from the field. It took the Sixers a couple minutes to figure out how to generate shots inside the arc against a much larger Boston team. Council got that process going by driving straight through his defender for a layup. His drive on the following possession set up a dump-off to Yabusele.
• A quick heater from Maxey also helped the offense get going as he scored 14 of their first 21 points. He made his first three shots from beyond the arc, all of them were at least a couple steps behind the line. The Celtics were able to snatch momentum back after Kelly Oubre Jr. missed two free throws, ripping off an 8-0 run.
• Some really solid minutes from the backup guards to close the quarter. Kyle Lowry has done a good job helping out Adem Bona where to stand in their 2-3 zone. He boxed out well and had three rebounds to show for it, and floated a dime to Maxey in transition. Reggie Jackson got a pull-up jumper to go, and got a trip to the line later that had the Sixers up eight after the first.

Second Quarter

• Boston’s offensive woes continued as they opened the quarter 1-of-5 from the floor. They couldn’t buy a jumper as that first make was a layup. Lowry and Jackson each tacked on a three at the other end to help the Sixers expand their lead.
• The Sixers made good use of their transition opportunities, and did a good job of not letting the Celtics’ defense get set. When they did though, it was hard to generate shots inside. Both Oubre and Yabusele weren’t able to muscle their way past defenders like they’re usually able to. The Sixers have struggled navigating around Kristaps Porzingis since he’s been in Boston. The Celtics also finally got some shots to fall on the other end as well.
• A big dunk in transition from Council seemed to swing the momentum back though. After that Yabusele was finally able to complete an and-1 and Oubre knocked down a three. Jrue Holiday appeared to hit one himself from the corner, but the refs deemed it came after the buzzer, leaving it a 17-point Sixers’ lead at the half.

Third Quarter

• The second half started out pretty choppy as it took the Sixers a couple minutes to get their first field goal. They eventually got in a rhythm, but ran into some foul trouble as well. Maxey picked up his third and fourth early in the quarter, and Yabu picked up another T for hanging on the rim.
• The Sixers’ ball movement was excellent — from the backdoor actions to try to get around Porzingis, to Oubre falling out of bounds and still throwing a laser to Yabusele in the corner. They were just able to stay one pass ahead of the defense. A big reason the ball was moving well was Council, who already had a career-high eight assists through three. He was doing a good job all night of hitting cutters on the baseline and making the right hit ahead passes in transition.
• Despite Yabusele adding Derrick White to his collection of posters, the Celtics slowly kept themselves alive. Trailing by as much as 26, they made their last four shots, and scored on five of their last six possessions to the cut the lead to 14 at the end of the third.

Fourth Quarter

• Boston’s push continued as they ripped off four straight baskets early in the quarter, three of those coming from beyond the arc. The Sixers called a timeout to stop the bleeding, but turned it over on their next two possessions, the second of which because they screwed up getting the ball inbounds.
• The Celtics took their first lead since the 8:47 mark of the first when Tatum hit a three. They erased a 26-point lead in 8:05 of game time. The Sixers couldn’t buy a stop here, but it was their offense that felt more panicked. After slowing themselves down to a prevent-offense, they kept making mistakes trying to get back into gear.
• An Oubre three cut the lead to one, giving the Sixers one last push with a couple minutes to go. White responded with a three of his own. Tatum hit another jumper after Oubre had split a pair of free throws. Once Tatum had gotten going the Sixers couldn’t figure out anything to slow him down.

• The Sixers will hit the floor next on Tuesday as they begin another back-to-back. They’ll host the new-look Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. ET.