Celtics rally back from 22-point deficit to take Game 2 over Sixers, 108-103




The Celtics came back from a huge 1st-half deficit to take 2-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-103. Terry Rozier led the Celtics again with 20 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds including some huge plays in the 4th quarter. Jayson Tatum outdueled Ben Simmons with 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting. Jaylen Brown made his return to the lineup and chipped in 13 points and 4 rebounds and he made his presence known with some serious action at the rim.

For the Sixers, J.J. Reddick led the team with 23 points and Joel Embiid scored 20 points and ripped down 14 boards. "Rookie" Ben Simmons was abysmal in the loss, scoring 1 point on 0-4 shooting although he did have 7 assists and 5 rebounds in the effort.

The C's got off to a rough start, missing their first four attempts from the field as they allowed the Sixers to start the game on an 8-0 run. A trey from Smart got the C's on the board and Brown checked in for the first time this series and quickly made his presence known:


The Sixers still carried a 9-point lead into the 2nd quarter, 31-22, behind 13 points from Reddick as he shot 5 of 6 from the field (3-3 from deep).

Things didn't get much better for the C's to start the 2nd, as Embiid finally got going against Aron Baynes. After a few buckets in close he even knocked down this ridiculous fadeaway:


With 7:21 remaining in the 1st half the C's sloppy play had already resulted in 7 turnovers vs 8 field goals made. Meanwhile Philly built themselves a 21-point lead behind the carelessness of the C's and their own dominance on the glass.

But the Celtics rallied late in the 2nd quarter behind some tough defense and stellar shooting, closing on an 18-3 run over the final 4 minutes that was capped off with authority once again from Brown:



It took the Celtics just over 3 minutes into the 2nd half to complete the comeback and knot the score at 58, and just over a minute later they'd take their first lead of the on a three from Baynes.

Then Tatum went off, scoring 10 points in the quarter and shaking Robert Covington out of his shoes in the process:


The Celtics started the 4th quarter witha 5-point lead, but after Philly tied the game things got wild. A back-and-forth battle ensued until it was Scary Terry time as Rozier got hot late, ripping off a pair of threes and putting a thunderous finish on the Sixers with this dime to Tatum on the run:



The Celtics now hold a 2-0 lead as the series shifts back to Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is at 5pm.


Photo Credit - Brian Babineau/GETTY Images

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