Boston Cruises Past Philadelphia, take a 3-1 series lead

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Joel Embiid returned to the lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers after a two-week absence following emergency appendicitis surgery, but his presence wasn’t enough to lift Philadelphia past the Boston Celtics. 

Coming off a six-point victory in Game 3, Boston delivered an impressive offensive performance in Game 4, highlighted by 30 points from Jayson Tatum and a playoff career-high 32 points from Payton Pritchard. 

Payton Pritchard 

Despite coming off the bench, Payton Pritchard dictated the tempo and flow of the game for Boston. He showcased exceptional poise on the offensive end, combining elite shot-making with sharp decision-making throughout the night. 

Boston’s roster construction allows for a high-level scorer to be on the floor at all times, and Pritchard fully embraced that role in Game 4. He knocked down six three-pointers, including a remarkable one-legged heave to close the first quarter. His performance helped take off pressure from Jaylen Brown, who has been among the league’s top scorers this season. 

When the Boston Celtics are able to run their offense through role players while reducing the burden on their stars, they become a very difficult team to contain.

Jayson Tatum 

Coming off achilles surgery this summer, Jayson Tatum has looked nothing short of outstanding. While Pritchard provided a major scoring spark, Tatum controlled the game during stretches when Pritchard was off the floor. 

After a slow start—shooting just 1-for-7 from the field—Tatum found his rhythm as the game progressed. He finished with 30 points on an efficient 50% shooting, while also contributing 10 assists and 7 rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double. 

Beyond his scoring, Tatum’s ability to facilitate and involve teammates has been especially impactful, signaling a well-rounded return following a significant injury. 

Boston continues to demonstrate its strength as a complete team. With the series shifting back to TD Garden for Game 5, the Celtics are now just one win away from their fifth consecutive appearance in the conference semifinals.

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