After taking Game 1, the Boston Celtics will look to hold their home-court advantage against a Philadelphia 76ers side with plenty of work to do. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Game 2 from 10:30am (AEST).
The Celtics won every quarter of the series opener to take a 16-point victory and a 1-0 series lead. Holding onto home court is a must for Boston, who are going to potentially struggle on the road, especially without Kyrie Irving, who has been rubbed out for the rest of the season.
His absence leaves the men in green with a significant mountain to climb, but they did exactly that in the first round of the ,playoffs with a seven-game victory over a solid Milwaukee Bucks outfit.
The extra rest the 76ers had after a five-game win over the Heat may have hurt them in Game 1, with the side looking rusty, but it should help their chances during the second half of the series.
The young Sixers need to overcome a gritty Boston defence though, with the visitors held to just 42 per cent from the field in Game 1. If they can’t pick up that shooting percentage, or at least replicate it for Boston, it’ll be tough to stay level on the scoreboard.
Philadelphia were actually dominant in the paint during the first game, having an advantage of 16 rebounds by the end of the game, but it didn’t translate to points because of their poor shooting.
While Joel Embiid (31), Ben Simmons (18) and JJ Redick (20) all dropped plenty of points at more than 50 per cent, they got very little in the way of back up and with Boston playing out of their skin, they didn’t have the answers to compete with them for 48 minutes.
For the Celtics to maintain their dominance, there is going to be a heavy reliance on Al Horford to again dominate the paint after he pulled down 26 points and seven rebounds in the first game. Jayson Tatum and Terry Rozier also had big games, but they need more from centre Aaron Baynes in an attempt to control Embiid.
Prediction
The Celtics, still at home, seem to be a distance ahead. They played out of their skin in Game 1, and I expect the 76ers to improve as they work into the series, but Philadelphia will be under the pump heading back home for Game 3.
Celtics by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 2 from 10:30am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 NBA Playoffs as the Boston Celtics went up 2-0 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back on Sunday at 7am (AEST) for Game 3. Be sure to join me then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tatum has 21 points, Rozier 20. Al Horford huge as well with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Ben Simmons had just 1 point with five rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers. Ouch.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Oh, would you look at my prediction...
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers? Can the Sixers get back into this series?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Boston Celtics will take a 2-0 lead against the Philadelphia 76ers and Simmons and his team have all the work to do when they go back home for Game 3. That game was really lost by the Sixers in the final five minutes of the first half. From a 22-point lead, they squandered momentum and weren't able to stop it, going into halftime just five points ahead. From there, Boston got a lead and while they didn't hold it as strongly as they would have liked, they did enough to pick up the win with Terry Rozier the key man. Boston Celtics - 108 Philadelphia 76ers - 103
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Taytum makes the second as well. Celtics - 108 76ers - 103
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Taytum makes the first and that'll be that. Celtics - 107 76ers - 103
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' 5.5 on the clock. Quick foul. Well, in fact, they took two seconds. Taytum will go to the line. The foul probably should have been called a second earlier there. 3.4 to go. One free throw and this is over. Celtics - 106 76ers - 103
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' 5.5 seconds. Timeout called. Celtics - 106 76ers - 103
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Inbound to Embiid. He is fouled by Smart and hits a three, but it's ruled the whistle was before the shot. Probably the right call. Had a foul to give so it's fine. Saric scores off the inbound and it's a three-point game with 5.5 seconds to go. Surely they can't pull this out of the fire? Celtics - 106 76ers - 103
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Timeout called, but this is all but over. Celtics - 106 76ers - 101
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' That'll do it! Boston play the clock down, Philly elect not to foul and Al Horford manages to get around his defender, dropping it in off the window. Boston by five with under nine seconds to go. Celtics - 106 76ers - 101
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Embiid misses a three, but Saric is there for the offensive board and he hits the put back. Three-point game with half a minute to go. Celtics - 104 76ers - 101
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Celtics inbound into the backcourt. Rozier goes quickly and then it's Taytum. Great bit of work from Covington as he swats it over the baseline. Two seconds on the shot clock now from the inbound. They will need to get up a catch and shoot but Taytum misses. Celtics - 104 76ers - 99
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Rozier under pressure up the floor. He was trapped, but Brad Stevens calls timeout for the Celtics. 5 point game with 59.7 seconds on the clock. It's not over, but the Sixers need stops. Celtics - 104 76ers - 99
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Celtics can pretty much put the game to bed right here. Shot clock running down and Smart misses from long range. Simmons quickly to work and Covington drops it in from close range. Celtics - 104 76ers - 99
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Simmons through the lane this time. He misses over Morris and nothing has gone right for the Aussie today. 1:43 on the clock. Celtics - 104 76ers - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Smart misses the first, makes the second. Celtics - 104 76ers - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Embiid with a missed three. Rozier runs the rebound down and he is on fire, bringing it up the floor. Now it's Horford before Smart is double teamed and there's a foul called on Covington. Free throws on the way. Celtics - 103 76ers - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Timeout. The Sixers are going to need a lot to go right for them here. Celtics - 103 76ers - 97