The Boston Celtics opened their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series in dominant fashion Sunday night, rolling to a convincing 123–91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers to take a 1–0 series lead at TD Garden.
In his first postseason appearance since suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon last season, Jayson Tatum delivered a standout performance with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Tatum wasted little time making his presence felt, scoring 21 points in the first half alone while helping Boston seize early control of the game. The All-Star forward, appearing in just his 17th game of the season following Achilles surgery last May, showed no signs of hesitation as he led the Celtics’ balanced attack.
Jaylen Brown added 26 points, while Neemias Queta contributed 13 off the bench as Boston showcased its depth. The Celtics connected on 16 shots from beyond the arc and never trailed, building a lead that swelled to as many as 35 points. With the outcome firmly in hand, head coach Joe Mazzulla rotated 12 players through the lineup as Boston cruised to the lopsided win.
Boston set the tone early. Tatum scored 10 points in the opening quarter, highlighted by an emphatic two-handed dunk that energized the crowd and helped the Celtics close the period ahead 33–18. By halftime, the lead had ballooned to 64–46 — Philadelphia’s largest halftime playoff deficit against Boston since 1982.
The 76ers struggled to keep pace offensively, particularly from long range. Philadelphia shot just 4-of-23 from three-point territory and found it difficult to generate consistent rhythm against Boston’s aggressive defense.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 21 points and eight assists but faced constant defensive pressure. Boston contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half, and he finished 8-of-20 from the field overall. Paul George added 17 points, while rookie V.J. Edgecombe chipped in 13.
Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, who continues recovering from an appendectomy performed April 9. His absence was especially noticeable inside, where backup centers Adem Bona and Andre Drummond each picked up two quick fouls early. That forced head coach Nick Nurse to turn to Dominick Barlow, who had played just 10 minutes in the team’s play-in win over Orlando.
Boston took advantage of the interior instability, repeatedly attacking the paint while also stretching the defense with efficient perimeter shooting. The Celtics’ defensive pressure and offensive balance proved overwhelming from start to finish.
With momentum firmly on their side and Tatum looking comfortable in his playoff return, Boston will aim to extend its series lead when Game 2 tips off Tuesday night in Boston.
