‘One of the best players in the world’: Tatum comes up clutch for Celtics as Sixers ‘blow it’ in NBA playoffs

For a very long time it appeared like this wasn’t Jayson Tatum’s night time.

But he’s not a four-time All-Star for nothing and when it mattered most, Tatum stood tall to guide the Boston Celtics to a 95-86 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The win noticed the Celtics tie up their Eastern Conference semi-finals collection at 3-3, forcing a Game 7 again house in Boston.

Tatum simply couldn’t discover his shot, heading into the third quarter with simply three factors with the Sixers seemingly cruising to victory till he exploded for 16 within the fourth.

“I’m one of, humbly, one of the best basketball players in the world,” Tatum mentioned post-game.
“It’s a long game… I trusted myself.”

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“Devastating doesn’t even begin to describe it,” Stephen A. Smith mentioned of Philadelphia’s collapse on ESPN post-game.

“They had the best opportunity they’ve had in 22 years and they blew it.”

Marcus Smart was all over the place for the Celtics, ending the sport with 22 factors, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals whereas Malcolm Brogdon had 16 factors off the bench.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, in the meantime, mixed for 52 factors for the Sixers whereas James Harden had 13 factors.

Harden and Embiid although failed to provide when Philadelphia wanted it most, with the Sixers managing simply 13 factors within the fourth quarter.

The Sixers have been uncharacteristically sluggish to open Friday’s sport, capturing 1-for-8 from the sector in a horror begin that noticed Philadelphia fall behind 15-3 early.

Boston, alternatively, was pushing the tempo and enjoying with a stage of confidence and authority that was a stark distinction to its rivals.

The choice to start out Robert Williams additionally proved a masterstroke from Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, together with his rim safety protecting the Sixers to simply 3-for-12 contained in the paint within the first quarter.

Summing up the Sixers’ early woes was one play the place Embiid had a wide-open dunk off a Harden cross, solely to lose the ball out of bounds.

It appeared prefer it was going to be that type of night time for the Sixers as boos rang out at Wells Fargo Center however a fast 9-0 run had Philadelphia storming proper again into the sport.

All issues thought-about, the Sixers may take into account themselves fortunate to solely be trailing 29-22 after the primary quarter given Embiid, Harden and Tobias Harris shot a mixed 2-for-15.

Maxey led the way in which for the Sixers with eight factors however it was Brogdon (11 factors) off the bench who was pacing the scoring amongst each groups.

The bench manufacturing was definitely useful for Boston because the group’s main scorer Tatum went and not using a area purpose for the whole first half.

While Tatum was struggling to search out his capturing rhythm, he was not less than making up for it elsewhere, ending the half with seven rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

Maxey once more continued to be the most important spark for Philadelphia as Harden and Embiid struggled, nearly out-scoring the pair (15 to 18) because the Sixers trailed 50-43 at halftime.

Smart, in the meantime, stood up after Brogdon’s quick begin to assist Boston overcome Tatum’s gradual begin, main the Celtics’ scorers with 15 factors and three rebounds.

Neither group shot significantly nicely within the first half however the Celtics have been profiting from their alternatives in transition, outscoring the Sixers 16-6 in fast-break factors.

The Celtics prolonged the lead again to double figures early within the third quarter because the collection appeared destined for Game 7, that was till Embiid and Harden lastly began to catch fireplace.

Maxey was nonetheless offering the identical power on offence he had the whole sport whereas Georges Niang was serving to area out the ground for Embiid whereas draining some clutch pictures of his personal.

The end result? The Sixers took a 73-71 lead into the ultimate quarter of the sport.

The Celtics have been in determined want of some manufacturing from Tatum and the 25-year-old responded nearly instantly within the fourth as he got here into the sport for Jaylen Brown.

First, Tatum grabbed a defensive board earlier than driving in direction of the rim and drawing a foul, occurring to make each of his free throws to tie up the sport.

Unfortunately for Boston, nothing else gave the impression to be coming straightforward for Tatum, who missed his subsequent shot and turned the ball over quickly after as Smart and Brogdon stored the Celtics afloat.

Tatum simply couldn’t get going and it will’ve been straightforward to cross up pictures late within the sport consequently however as an alternative the four-time hit back-to-back 3-pointers within the area of 40 seconds.

That gave the Celtics an 87-83 lead with simply over three minutes on the clock and Tatum then backed it up with one other large 3-pointer minutes later to make it 92-84 with 90 seconds left.

While Tatum will get loads of reward for a number of clutch pictures late within the sport, Smart deserves his plaudits too after 5 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists within the fourth quarter.

It was Tatum although who had the ultimate say to ice off his unbelievable fourth-quarter resurrection, draining one other 3-pointer because the Sixers appeared resigned to their destiny.