Celtics Overcome 26-Point Deficit, Stun 76ers 118-110/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Boston Celtics pulled off a stunning 26-point comeback, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 118-110 on Sunday night. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 35 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Despite Tyrese Maxey’s 34-point effort, the 76ers collapsed late, missing injured stars Joel Embiid and Caleb Martin.
Celtics’ 26-Point Comeback Shocks 76ers: Quick Looks
- Jayson Tatum scored 35 points, with 13 in the fourth quarter.
- Boston outscored Philadelphia 46-20 in the final 14 minutes.
- Jaylen Brown had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
- Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 34 points, his fifth straight 30+ point game.
- Celtics shot 68.2% in the fourth quarter, dominating after halftime.
- 76ers played without Joel Embiid (knee) and Caleb Martin (hip strain).
- Boston’s defense held Philly to just 16 fourth-quarter points.
Celtics Overcome 26-Point Deficit, Stun 76ers 118-110
Celtics Rally Past 76ers: Deep Look
Tatum Leads the Charge in Historic Comeback
Jayson Tatum was unstoppable, scoring 35 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, with 13 points in the fourth quarter alone. Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Kristaps Porzingis (18 points) and Derrick White (17 points) helped seal the victory.
“We just kept fighting,” Tatum said. “Basketball is a game of runs, and we knew we had one left in us.”
Sixers’ Fast Start Fizzles Out
Tyrese Maxey dominated early, scoring 23 first-half points and finishing with 34 points—his fifth straight game with 30+ points.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Guerschon Yabusele (21 points) provided support, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Boston’s relentless second-half push.
Philadelphia missed star center Joel Embiid, who sat out his 15th consecutive game with a knee injury. Caleb Martin (hip strain) also remained sidelined, further depleting the Sixers’ lineup.
Key Moment: Celtics Take Control in the Fourth
- With 1:31 left in the third quarter, Yabusele’s dunk put the 76ers up 94-72.
- From that point, Boston outscored Philly 33-6, cutting the deficit to 14 points entering the fourth.
- In the final frame, Boston kept rolling, going on a 25-6 run to take a 101-100 lead with 6:51 left after a Jayson Tatum three-pointer.
- Sam Hauser and Derrick White each hit two three-pointers to fuel the rally.
“It wasn’t just Tatum and Brown,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “The whole team stepped up.”
Celtics’ Second-Half Surge
- Boston shot 67.7% (28-for-42) after halftime, torching Philly’s defense.
- In the fourth quarter alone, the Celtics went 15-for-22 (68.2%).
- Boston held Philadelphia to just 16 points in the final quarter after allowing 72 in the first three quarters.
“We got too comfortable,” Maxey admitted after the game.
Up Next
- Celtics: Visit Cleveland on Tuesday for a battle of the top two teams in the East.
- 76ers: Host Dallas on Tuesday, looking to rebound from the collapse.
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