Overview
- The Celtics routed the 76ers 128-96 on Sunday in Philadelphia to take a 3-1 series lead in the first round.
- Joel Embiid was cleared less than an hour before tip and finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes after an April 9 appendectomy.
- Boston drilled a franchise playoff-record 24 three-pointers and got 32 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard, while Jayson Tatum added 30 points and 11 assists.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla said the plan was to contain Embiid rather than stop him, a tactic that saw Tyrese Maxey take only three first-half shots as Philadelphia’s offense stalled.
- Game 5 is Tuesday at TD Garden, where Boston can close the series, and NBA teams down 3-1 have come back to win only 13 times in 298 series.