Boston Celtics bounced back from losing in Game 1 to beat the 76ers in a 121-87 blowout and even the series at 1-1 before going to Philadelphia despite the return of MVP Joel Embiid
- MVP winner Joel Embiid returned after missing Game 1 with a sprained LCL
- Celtics forward Jaylen Brown led the way for the Boston with 25 points in the win
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points as the Boston Celtics rolled past the Philadelphia 76ers 121-87 on Wednesday night, ruining the return of reigning league MVP Joel Embiid.
The Celtics tied the series at one game apiece as the Eastern Conference Semifinals series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.
Malcolm Brogdon added 23 points and connected on six of Boston’s 20 three-pointers. Derrick White and Marcus Smart each added 15 points. Jayson Tatum played in foul trouble most of the game and was held to seven points.
Boston strengthened its defense and limited a 76ers team that hit 17 3-pointers in its Game 1 victory to just 6 of 30 from past the arc on Wednesday. The Celtics led by 36 points in the fourth quarter.
Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 16 points. Embiid finished with 15 points, three rebounds and five blocks in his first game back from a right knee sprain that saw him miss the final game of the 76ers’ first-round sweep of Brooklyn. He also sat out Philadelphia’s Game 1 win on Monday.
Embiid’s return came a day after being voted MVP for the first time.
The Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 121-87 in a tremendous performance to tie the series
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown led the way for the Boston with 25 points in the win
NBA MVP winner Joel Embiid returned from the sprained LCL that kept him out of Game 1
He was cleared to play by doctors and training staff after pregame on-field training.
hat was after doing some light work during the morning shooting of the 76ers.
Tatum got three fouls in the first half. He was called for his fourth at 7:34 of the third quarter when he knocked Harden to the ground while trying to fight through a screen.
It forced him to play a little less aggressively and helped Philadelphia cut Boston’s 18-point lead to 73–60 with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter.
James Harden recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but was shot horribly
Forest sixth man Malcolm Brogdon surrendered 23 points off the bench to finish second on the team
But Tatum’s teammates caught up and led the way as the Celtics finished the quarter with a 19-5 run to cut it to 92-65 going into the fourth.
Embiid started slowly offensively, but with the 76ers struggling to get shots from outside, he made an almost immediate impact defensively.
First he blocked an early shot from Smart and then forced White to try again. Embiid had five blocks in his first 13 minutes of action.
But his fitness was noticeably lacking, as he sometimes trudged in sets. He barely played seven minutes in the first quarter before getting his first half. He returned for the final 1:05 of the period.
Embiid scored his first field goal of the night. a jumper over Grant Williams, with 21.4 seconds left before tripping as he reversed down the track.
He got up quickly. He finished the first half with 13 points, 7 of 8 from the free throw line.