BOSTON CELTICS BEAT PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 125-119

The Celtics continued to win on Friday night 125-119 without him.

“They were prepared. They were prepared to expel me,” Tatum remarked. “Did I swear? No, I didn’t. It stunned me. Always get your money’s worth, they say. You will be assessed a fine. Without a doubt, I did not receive my money’s value.

Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ top two scorers, were not available. However, Tatum’s exit was the one that altered the atmosphere within the structure.

De’Anthony Melton’s deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the fourth gave Boston a 95-91 advantage. Boston had led by six points in the third quarter. Tatum lost possession of the ball while bringing it down along the sideline, and in the subsequent scramble, he struck Robert Covington in the face.

Tatum received a foul whistle. He protested for a long time and was removed from the game after he interrupted the referees’ huddle, despite the Celtics’ coaches’ attempts to stop him. In the first half, Tatum had already been given a technical foul.

The Celtics’ coach, Joe Mazzulla, stated that he was fine with Tatum displaying some grit.

Mazzulla remarked, “I actually like it.” Some of that, in my opinion, is crucial. It goes without saying that you don’t want it to obstruct your victory. However, I would lean on the side of preferring to see that kind of enthusiasm and caring than nothing at all.

The crowd began to grumble as Tatum exited the floor, booing the officials loudly and in unison. Tatum’s foul was reviewed and determined to be a Flagrant 1, and Covington made the technical free throw to knot the score at 95.

“I believed I was fouled. I was attempting to discuss that play with someone. That was all there was to it,” Tatum remarked. “I wasn’t really that angry.” Don’t share that story publicly. With composure, I returned to my chair and grabbed some ice. I wasn’t angry. Nothing was thrown by me. I continued to watch the game. I saw us triumph.”

Crew chief Bill Kennedy informed a pool reporter, “Jayson continued to complain and was asked multiple times to head to his bench.” “He was given a second technical foul for making overt gestures toward the officials and continuing to complain about the foul that was called on the floor.”

Boston Celtics defense was key force for keeping them into winning position. They has 8 blocks along with 10 steals in the game.

With 5:08 remaining and Boston up 111-108, Melton fouled out while leading the 76ers in scoring with 21 points. Before allowing eight points to be scored in the next eight minutes, Philadelphia led 116-115 behind 26 points from Patrick Beverley, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

Payton Pritchard scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, and Derrick White added 21 points for Boston. With eight minutes remaining and Philadelphia up 106-104, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford teamed for two back-to-back blocks on Tobias Harris.https://x.com/celtics/status/1730782235287072864?s=20

Brown also scored 20 points for the Celtics. 

For Sixers Patrick Beverley was Top scorer with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. De’Anthony Melton scored 21 points and 4 rebounds for sixers.

“I felt that everyone took initiative. We have that kind of team, period,” Mazzulla remarked. “The other guys simply followed the necessary steps to prevail.”

With eighteen seconds remaining, Boston trailed 116-115 after Horford drove for a basket, the Celtics made four straight free throws, and Holiday found Pritchard under the hoop to cut the deficit to seven points.