PHILADELPHIA — After Derrick White smoked a layup — and Guershon Yabusele sunk one more three-pointer — it appeared that the Celtics’ have been inching towards considered one of their worst losses of the season.
A 26-point deficit towards the shorthanded 76ers loomed with three minutes left within the third quarter.
And, as many Celtics’ followers in attendance at Wells Fargo Aces started to warily look towards the exits, Joe Mazzulla additionally started to marvel if it was time to wave the white flag.
In truth, the third-year head coach challenged his gamers at halftime to up their vitality — or he’d flip to the bench.
“Joe was like, ‘Yo, when you drained, simply inform me, I can sit you guys down, let the Keep Prepared guys play,’” recalled Jayson Tatum after the 118-110 comeback win. “And, we simply had a option to make.”
Collectively, they determined they weren’t going to write down off Sunday night as simply one other unhealthy night time.
“We simply needed to be trustworthy with ourselves at halftime… our aggressive spirit wasn’t the place it wanted to be,” Tatum mentioned.
Jaylen Brown agreed.
“It’s [easy] to only name it an evening and simply throw the subs in, or simply provide you with some form of excuse to provide the media or no matter,” Brown mentioned. “We rallied again, we put the trouble in, we turned it up, we stayed collectively — and we persevered by way of a win.”
How the Celtics overcame their largest deficit within the Joe Mazzulla period
The Celtics trailed by 17 on the half after taking pictures simply 25.9% from three — whereas the 76ers shot a scorching 52.6%. Halfway by way of the third quarter, the taking pictures hole had by some means gotten even greater.
“At one level, I appeared on the field rating they usually [Sixers] have been taking pictures 60% from three, and we have been taking pictures 26%, and so I mentioned, ‘We’re going to lose by 50 or it’s going to be a detailed recreation.’” Mazzulla mentioned.
And, whereas Philadelphia’s lead ballooned from 17 to 26 in the course of the third quarter, Mazzulla appreciated what he noticed even when issues weren’t going the Celtics’ approach.
“I used to be form of learning their physique language, and it appeared like they actually, actually needed to do what it took to win,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So, I form of caught with them — they usually delivered.”
The Philadelphia lead continued to develop largely as a result of play of Yabusele, who exploded for 21 factors — 12 of which got here within the third quarter, punctuated by a couple of high-flying dunks. Within the absence of each Joel Embiid and Paul George, Kelly Oubre and Justin Edwards mixed to hit 4 of seven threes.
Nonetheless, the Celtics stayed in it.
“It didn’t go our approach immediately — and we simply needed to maintain combating — nevertheless it introduced out the perfect in us,” Tatum mentioned. “That’s how we’re imagined to play. It took a little bit bit from all people. Our aggressive pleasure was there on each ends.”
Within the first half, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mixed for simply 16 factors on 6-15 taking pictures. The 76ers had 20 factors in transition, led by Tyrese Maxey, who had 23 factors on the half. Mazzulla needed to see a greater effort — and he made it clear.
“The best way we performed within the first half was not consultant of who we’re as a group, as a company,” Tatum mentioned. “And, we took it as males and responded.”
Within the second, the All-Star duo exploded for 40 factors on a shocking 16-22 taking pictures.
Due to some lockdown protection by each Brown and Jrue Vacation, Maxey scored simply 11 factors on 2-7 taking pictures within the second half.
The end result was the comeback of the yr — and two wildly spectacular particular person statlines. Tatum completed the night time with 35 factors (13-20 FG), 11 assists, and seven rebounds, whereas Brown tallied 21 factors (9-17 FG), 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.
And, whereas the comeback was led by the Celtics’ superstars, it was a real group effort that noticed everybody who performed within the second half meaningfully contribute.
Sam Hauser, who has had an up-and-down season in Boston, hit 3 of 4 second-half three-pointers in 12 minutes off the bench.
Derrick White nailed each of his fourth-quarter three-pointers regardless of being sidelined for the primary 8 minutes of the interval.
Jrue Vacation, who performed the complete last interval, hit the dagger three-ball to provide the Celtics an 8-point benefit with below a minute to play — and Wells Fargo, inundated with Celtics followers, exploded in celebration.
Tatum mentioned as they fought to chop the deficit, the group exhibited an encouraging stage of resilience.
“It takes a powerful group,” Tatum mentioned. “And I give credit score to Sam off the bench, Luke — these guys gave us massive minutes, made massive performs.”
In flip, over the sport’s last quarter-hour, the Celtics outscored the 76ers 54-20 — taking pictures 74% total and 12 of 16 from three, per NBC Sports activities Boston’s Dick Lipe. The 26-point comeback was tied for the biggest of the NBA season, by any group.
A marquee win on a Sunday night in Philadelphia
After it was full, Mazzulla — who usually downplays wins and their significance — shared the message he had for his gamers.
“I simply advised the fellows, within the NBA you get a couple of probabilities to the place you actually see your guys do one thing particular within the common season,” Mazzulla mentioned.
Each Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown agreed that Sport No. 50 marked a particular second within the Celtics’ season.
“Generally, identical to, man, we bought to remind ourselves who we’re,” Tatum mentioned. “We was down 18 in Indiana final yr in Sport 3 [of the Eastern Conference Finals]. We’re conversant in being in these conditions, however we simply needed to play with a little bit extra swag. We ain’t haven’t any life to start out the sport.”
That swag and that life returned within the second half — and it was obvious to anybody who was watching.
“I appreciated how the fellows have been speaking with one another,” Mazzulla mentioned. “I like how we have been combating defensively.”
“We simply needed to maintain chipping and maintain believing, till we form of broke by way of,” Tatum mentioned.
Brown recalled getting overly pissed off by a foul name within the first half — and credited 76ers head coach Nick Nurse for offering his gamers a radical recreation plan.
However, he additionally famous the Celtics shouldn’t have discovered themselves on this place.
“There’s sufficient expertise the place groups can play very well,” Brown mentioned. “However we’re the higher group. And we simply needed to keep it up.”
In the end, it was back-to-back Jayson Tatum three-pointers that erased a five-point fourth-quarter deficit to provide the Celtics a 1-point lead with 7 minutes to play.
They by no means trailed once more.
The litany of missed photographs and defensive lapses within the first half can definitely be scrutinized. The Celtics will probably evaluation movie of their early-game errors forward of Tuesday’s match-up towards the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, when it’s all mentioned and executed, what stood out most was the Celtics’ lack of ability to stop. It’s only one victory — nevertheless it had almost each aspect of a marquee win.
“I used to be proud to educate them this recreation,” Mazzulla mentioned.
