Boston is the undisputed in-form team in the NBA with the longest running winning streak (9). Losing to the Celtics, even at home, should therefore not be seen as an affront. But Philadelphia added the way this Tuesday, sinking completely (87-135).
This gap of 48 points had never been reached in 457 confrontations between these two franchises present in the League since its creation in 1946. It constitutes the third largest differential of the season, even if it remains far from the historic slap inflicted by Memphis to Oklahoma City in early December (152-79, +73).
“They were better than us in everything, in coaching, in playing… and if there is another category, they dominated it too”laughed very yellow the coach of the Sixers, Doc Rivers, who was the coach of the Celtics during their 17th and last title, in 2008.
Rivers saw his team take on water from the in-between (0-7 following 1’30). The 10 points difference was reached following less than five minutes (4-14, 5th), the 20 in the middle of the second quarter (28-49, 17th), the 30 shortly following half-time (44- 75, 27th), the 40 before the end of the third period (56-96, 33rd), with even a passage above 50 shortly before the end (79-130, 45th).
To reach 135 points, Boston shot like a dream (25/45 from three points) with very efficient leaders (29 points in 29′ for Jaylen Brown, 28 points in 30′ for Jayson Tatum) and a good Daniel Theis, author of 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in 20 minutes for his return.
The only bad news for the “C’s”, who are rising in the standings (6th in the East), they may have to do without their titular leader, Marcus Smart, for a while, severely hit in the right ankle when he landed on a foot from Embiid in the second quarter.
The Pain of Marcus Smart, supported by Al Horford and Jaylen Brown. (B. Streicher/USA Today/Archyde.com)