Overview
- Boston blitzed Philadelphia from the start with defense that held the Sixers to 18 first‑quarter points and never let the game tighten.
- The Celtics won 123-91 to take a 1-0 series lead, posting 16 made threes while the Sixers hit four and trailing 20-10 in fast-break points.
- Philadelphia took only 23 three-pointers, which was 12 below its season average, as players passed up open looks and drove into traffic.
- Nick Nurse pointed to a poor start, foul trouble for his bigs, and live-ball turnovers, and he said the team must create and take more threes.
- Yahoo Sports noted Joel Embiid’s absence due to surgery recovery and Heavy argued the Sixers’ iso-heavy offense produced few easy shots, raising pressure on Nurse to adjust.