The Philadelphia 76ers showed plenty of promise on the road, but now it’s win or else as they return home for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Boston Celtics. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7am (AEST).
Philadelphia, after being beaten by 16 in Game 1 on the road, had it all do in Game 2 and hit the ground running, racing to a 22-point lead towards the end of the first half.
With the exception of an out of sorts Ben Simmons, the Philly attack was back to where it was during the first round against the Celtics, with Joel Embiid, Robert Covington and an on fire J.J. Redick leading the way.
Simmons only scored one point during Game 2 though and he will need to be back somewhere near his best if the load of work isn’t going to be too much for his teammates, as it turned out to be during the second game.
There was also the suggestion the ‘Sixers coach Brett Brown didn’t handle the situation well. The Celtics went on a 26-5 run before halftime and not one timeout was called to break the momentum the men in green managed to build up.
Boston were led through the game by Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum, while the return of Jaylen Brown brought them plenty. He is only going to increase his level in Game 3, with court time back from a hamstring injury important.
The pressure is almost off Boston for this game. They have held their home court and can now show up and play with freedom, something which may not suit the Sixers who, when against a run in the first two games have struggled to slow down Boston.
The momentum may not hit with as much force back at home, but they must get their defensive ship in order or else Rozier and Brown will lead Boston to another win, with the inside presence of Joel Embiid up against Aaron Baynes likely to be a key determinant in the pace of the game and Boston’s ease of scoring.
Prediction
The 76ers showed more than enough in Game 2 of the series to suggest that with a bit of momentum and being back at home, they can take Game 3 and keep themselves alive back at home. It won’t be easy, but the Celtics are going to have drop-offs at times. The 76ers just need to take full advantage during those periods.
76ers by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Game 3 from 7am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Just saw the play you were talking about. It is one of the issues Ben, has tends to clocks off once he passes the ball and takes his eyes off the ball.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah I feel like TJ McConnell should be playing more minutes. Dude has given immediate spark every time he hits the floor.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah agree. Simmons was definitely solid during regulation.
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 go up 3-0 over the Philadelphia 76ers. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Tyler Oringer will be here on Tuesday from 8am (AEST) to bring you Game 4. Depending on other series, we may carry some coverage at the back end of them if they get to five, six and seven games. Certainly, Houston and Utah are looking a candidate to go all the way right now. Bye for now.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I only saw the over time. Embiid should have kept coming for that inbound.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, but came up ordinary in the key moments at the end. Should have been on the end of Redick's pass in regulation and then threw the inbounds for that turnover at the end of OT.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Thats goodbye for this season, Simmons is playing too many minutes and it showed.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the game? Can Philly turn things around in Game 4?
Rellum
Roar Guru
At least Ben had a decent game?
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, Game 4 will be played Tuesday Morning (AEST). Boston could well close out the series.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Horford smashed Embiid in that overtime.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Long inbound pass to Belinelli here. He fires off balance and a long, long way from home, but it's no good. Just a little bit too much on it and the Boston Celtics will take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. Al Horford the man of the moment there after the bucket to take the lead and the free throws to clinch it. Boston the better side tonight, but that was an excellent game with 15 lead changes throughout the contest. Absolutely brilliant game. For all intensive purposes, that's probably the end of the season for the Sixers, who made three turnovers at crucial times down the stretch of this game, firstly stopping them from winning it in regulation and then again in overtime. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 101
Ray Stewart
Roar Rookie
Curse the confetti...a choke at home for Simmons and his 76ers.
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' Horford makes the second. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 101
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' Horford makes the first. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 100
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' Simmons to inbound as he did last time. It's in to Embiid, but a turnover! HORFORD! How good has he been at the end of this one? Takes it away, then draws the foul running up court with three seconds to go. The Sixers have made three crucial turnovers in this game. No timeouts left in this one either. Horford may purposely miss the second if he gets the first here. Embiid fouled out. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' Morris to inbound again. He gets it in this time and Horford manages to take it, then get the shot in off the glass. Horford. So cool, so calm, so collected under pressure. What a shot from the veteran. Who knows why Covington was matched up down there in the low block. 5.5 seconds on the clock, Celtics by one and the Sixers take timeout. They must score. It's just about season over otherwise. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' Celtics have 8.4 seconds and a timeout left. They don't get the inbound in and Brad Stevens will call the timeout- before the five seconds expired. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' Simmons will slow the pace, then send it to Redick. Sixers need a score here., Shot clock running down and Embiid misses a tough shot. Celtics down one with 15 seconds left as they get the ball back and they call for a timeout with 8.4 seconds left. Celtics score here and it could be over. That was a really poor offensive set from the Sixers. Simmons actually got an offensive board, but missed on the put back. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 97
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 OT 0' 42.5 on the clock. Horford misses the first, makes the second. 76ers - 98 Celtics - 97