Boston cruises past Philadelphia in Game 1; Charlotte eyes next step
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Boston — The Celtics opened the postseason with a commanding 123-91 victory over the 76ers on Saturday, never trailing and showcasing the roster depth that carried them through the regular season.
Celtics take early control
Jayson Tatum set the tone with 21 first-half points and finished with 25, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Jaylen Brown contributed 26 points, and reserve center Neemias Queta added 13 off the bench. Boston connected on 16 three-pointers and used a 12-man rotation to keep constant pressure on Philadelphia.
The hosts built a 33-18 lead by the end of the first quarter, highlighted by Tatum’s two-handed dunk, and stretched the margin to 64-46 at halftime. The advantage never dipped below double digits. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night at TD Garden.
76ers miss Embiid
Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid, who remains sidelined following an appendectomy, and struggled on both ends. Tyrese Maxey posted 21 points and eight assists but faced relentless defensive attention. Paul George scored 17, yet the Sixers shot just 4-for-23 from beyond the arc and battled foul trouble inside.
Head coach Nick Nurse’s club will look for improved shooting—and potentially Embiid’s return—before Game 2.
Hornets reflect on progress
While Charlotte fell short of the playoffs, the franchise improved from 19 to 44 wins, ending the season as one of the league’s stronger second-half teams. The postseason drought, however, reached 10 years.
“You’re one step away from being in the playoffs, so I don’t want to discredit that, but this has got to hurt a little bit,” head coach Charles Lee told reporters. Lee praised the roster’s growth and resilience but emphasized that greater strides are needed. “Let this fuel you. Don’t take for granted the fact that you guys earned a ton of respect,” he added.
Charlotte views 2023-24 as a foundation for the next campaign, when the objective shifts from progress to postseason qualification.
Source: Hoops Wire
