The Boston Celtics donned red accessories with their green attire on Wednesday night for their Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston was hosting the event, but through the first half of the game, it was looking like they were going to get beat on the parquet.
Philadelphia had their number on both ends of the floor in the first two quarters. But the third quarter was a different story, as the Celtics jumped all the way back into the game. By the time the fourth rolled around, it was anyone’s game to win, but the 76ers charged ahead, earning a 118-114 win.
Here are three studs and three duds from the Celtics’ win over the 76ers on Christmas.
BONUS STUD: Luke Kornet was awesome in this game. He ended up playing more minutes than expected due to Kristaps Porzingis' ankle injury, but it paid off. His help defense on Joel Embiid was very impactful, and his work on the glass helped propel Boston forward.
BONUS BONUS STUD: Derrick White made almost every single big-time shot in this game. He was awesome, and the Celtics needed him to be awesome.
Stud - Al Horford
It feels like every time Al Horford gets the chance to play the 76ers, he takes it personally. His stint in Philadelphia was a monumental failure, and ever since he’s gotten back to Boston, he always seems to turn it up against the Sixers.
Though Embiid had a big night, especially from beyond the arc, Horford’s defense down low was still solid. Embiid got most of his buckets from threes and mid-range jumpers.
But the offensive end is truly where Horford shined. He was raining down threes on the 76ers, giving an otherwise ugly Celtics offense some much-needed life.
Whenever Horford suits up against the 76ers, expect a solid outing.
Dud - First half Jaylen Brown
The first half of this game was by far one of Jaylen Brown’s worst showings of the year. He just couldn’t find a rhythm on either end of the floor, and it was really hurting the Celtics.
Offensively, Brown couldn’t make his shots. He was driving into traffic without a plan, missing his shots at the rim, and turning the ball over in bunches.
The turnovers were by far the most costly part of his game, but even when he would miss shots down low, the 76ers were able to push down the other end with numbers.
Brown’s defense was pretty rough, too. He was getting blown by far too easily by the Sixers, contributing to a team-wide problem on that side of the ball.
Stud - Jayson Tatum
In his first stint on the court, Jayson Tatum didn’t look great. He just wasn’t getting to the spots he usually does. But when he checked in for his second stretch, everything changed.
At that point, the Celtics were in a tough spot. The 76ers were getting whatever they wanted, and Boston couldn’t generate anything on offense.
Tatum came into the game and lit the net ablaze. He was making almost everything he put up, especially from behind the three-point line. But even when he got inside, he was great, bullying his way to the basket for trips to the line.
The superstar’s work on the glass was incredible, too. He was making it a point to grab every rebound he could.
This was the type of game the Celtics desperately needed from Tatum if they ever hoped to dig themselves out of the hole they put themselves in.
Dud - First half Defense
Brown’s lackluster play on the defensive side of the floor was merely part of the problem, as the Celtics’ entire team looked subpar on that end of the floor in the first half.
Maxey was driving past everyone on the Celtics. It looked like nobody was able to keep up. His quick movements created a ton of open looks for himself and his teammates, slicing up a slow Boston defensive front.
The back line wasn’t much better, as Kristaps Porzingis looked consistently slow to rotate over under the basket whenever Maxey or anyone else got inside.
And to make matters worse, for as well as Horford was doing against Embiid in the paint, the big man was making all of his jumpers, giving the Celtics’ already-poor defense something else to worry about.
Stud - The third quarter
This is where the entire game got flipped on its head.
In the first half, the Celtics were absolutely outclassed by the 76ers. Philadelphia bullied them with physicality, shut down Boston’s offensive flow, and was getting a ton of clean looks on offense.
But when the third quarter came around, everything changed. The Celtics went from being down eight at halftime to tied at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Brown’s ugly first half was met with a dominant third where he forced the issue and made all of his shots at the rim and from beyond the arc. Tatum was great, too, though he began getting frustrated with the officiating.
Add in the Celtics’ much-improved defense in the third, and they bounced all the way back. It was an amazing comeback effort for Boston, who looked as bad as they have all year in the first half.
Dud - Payton Pritchard
Payton Pritchard has been going through a bit of a rough patch. His shot just hasn’t been there for him, and while he brings other things to the table, his floor-spacing is his best asset.
On Christmas, Pritchard just couldn’t get any shots to fall. He was ice-cold from beyond the arc, and the Celtics could have used a bit more production from him.
He had a beautiful pass to Derrick White for a three in the first half, but considering how inefficient he was, this certainly wasn’t Pritchard’s best performance. (Well, except for his incredible defensive play to force a half-court violation vs. Maxey with less than three minutes to go in the fourth.)