On February 25, with the final few seconds left into the game, Jayson Tatum hit a game-winning three leading the Boston Celtics to a victory over the 76ers by a final score of 110-107.
In the first quarter, the Sixers got off to a hot start by scoring 10 points. Philadelphia’s offense was firing on all cylinders, as by the end of the quarter they shot 57% from the field. Tobias Harris set the tone for the 76ers as he scored 12 points in the first quarter.
Jaylen Brown kept the Boston Celtics afloat, though, as he scored the first eight points for the team. The Celtics weather the storm in the first quarter. In the final play of the first 12 minutes, Robert Williams hit a midrange jumper, and the Celtics were only down 28-30.
The Boston Celtics carried the momentum into the second quarter, as Grant Williams hit a 3-pointer to give the Cs the lead. Philadelphia then flipped a switch halfway through the second quarter and went on a 10-0 run.
Brown tried his best to keep Boston in the game as he scored another eight in the second quarter, and he finished the first half with 16 points.
The Celtics weren’t able to slow down the 76ers offense as they were picking up fouls, and the 76ers went 11/13 from the free-throw line.
Sixers have shot just 5-15 in the 2nd quarter, but they're 11-13 from the FT line. Half of their 22 points have come from FTs in the quarter.
— Souichi Terada | 寺田惣一 (@SouichiTerada) February 26, 2023
It was a disappointing first half for Tatum as he only scored four points, and he also had four turnovers.
In the third quarter, the 76ers pushed the lead up to 15, but Al Horford gave the Celtics life by scoring four straight 3-pointers. Then in the final possession for the Celtics, Tatum hit a step-back 3-pointer to give the Celtics a two-point lead heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics offense was rolling as they push their largest lead to eight. Then the 76ers went on an 8-0 run, and they were only down two points. After the timeout, Brown hit a jump shot, which pushed the lead back up to four.
In the final two minutes left into the game, the 76ers had a one-point lead, and Al Horford sank a 3-pointer which gave the Celtics a two-point lead. Then with 10 seconds left into the game, Joel Embiid knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the game.
Tatum had the final possession of the game, and he stunned the crowd when he scored the game-winning 3 with two seconds left on the clock. Embiid then sank in a full-court shot, but the buzz beater hit before he could get the shot off.
Al Horford gave the Boston Celtics new life
Just when you thought the Celtics were down and out, the veteran Al Horford gave the Celtics a chance to win the game.
Horford finished the game with 15 points, and he shot 5/8 from behind the arc. Horford was having an off night, but he caught fire in the fourth quarter which put the Cs in a better position to win the game.
Derrick White’s hot hand
This has been an amazing stretch for Derrick White, as he finishes the game with 18 points and shooting 79% from the floor.
So far in February White has averaged 20 points and six assists. White is also shooting 43% from three, and 48% from the field. The confidence that White has shown so far has been great.
Jayson Tatum had off night besides big shot
Jayson Tatum had an off night, but that didn’t discourage him from taking the final shot of the game. Tatum finish the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
"I told Grant, 'it's game time we're going home.'"
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 26, 2023
Jayson Tatum talks about mentality to hit game-winner despite having an off shooting night pic.twitter.com/LG5b341OJH
Ultimately, it was the kind of night an MVP candidate will have on occasion: an off-night for most of it but a timely moment to bring his team the win.