After a strong Game 1 showing from the Celtics at TD Garden, a 123-91 blowout, Joe Mazzulla’s team are back to face the 76ers in a Game 2 that should have plenty of bite. Boston will be eyeing a 2-0 lead heading to Philadelphia. Here’s the breakdown, the one to watch and the Mathodds pick.
What we learned from Game 1
The big takeaway was Boston’s control over this Embiid-less 76ers side. From the opening tip, the C’s hammered Philly, stretched the gap early and never really looked back. The clearest sign of that aggression was Jayson Tatum’s line by halftime: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, with threes, mid-range jumpers and strong takes to the rim. If anyone was worried about how he’d look coming back from such a major injury, relax. Tatum is back.
Jayson Tatum 25 Points, 11 Rebs, 7 Assists full highlight vs 76ers | 25-26 Playoffs G1 pic.twitter.com/Q3LdBKsaLf
— Hoops Showtime (@HoopsShowtime12) April 19, 2026
Around him, the supporting cast did its job. Brown woke up in the third quarter and finished with 23 points and 4 rebounds. Beyond the Jays, Derrick White (10 points, 6 assists), Sam Hauser (12 points, 7 rebounds), Neemias Queta (13 points) and Payton Pritchard (12 points) all chipped in, and Philly were left taking a 32-point hit in a game that was over before it had properly started.
For the Sixers, it was a grim night. The shooting numbers were ugly, capped by a dreadful 4/23 from three (17%), which about summed up the game. Tyrese Maxey did what he could with 21 points and 8 assists, but he had little help and little joy (8/20 shooting, 1/4 from deep), with Boston making him work for every touch. Edgecombe finished with 13 points on 6/16 shooting, while Paul George quietly added 19 at 50%.
Tatum’s defence in Game 1… one of our biggest weapons, after all 😈 pic.twitter.com/KwSijHv8xM
— Celtics France ☘️ (@Celtics_Fra) April 21, 2026
Outside those three, the roster never really got going. The ball barely moved, the energy vanished fast after Kelly Oubre Jr’s early dunk, and the rest of the night turned into a Boston clinic. Philly were behind in every area that mattered.
The key matchup for Game 2
The battle that could swing this game is Jayson Tatum against Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. In the first half, when Boston created the break in the scoreline, Tatum had 21 of his 25 points. For Game 2, Nick Nurse has to find something to stop JT from getting easy looks against his defence.
That likely means more pressure from the wings, with George and Oubre Jr asked to do the dirty work. But Boston have more than enough firepower elsewhere, so the Sixers can’t just focus on one man and hope the rest go quiet.
Celtics player to watch: Jayson Tatum
In his first playoff game since returning from last year’s Achilles injury, JT settled the debate quickly. That first half was a statement, plain and simple. In Game 2, expect Nurse to send more attention his way and force him into tougher reads as Boston try to free up the ball and keep the offence moving.
The real test is how Tatum responds. Can he get his without overdoing it? And if that isn’t there, can he create for others without coughing it up? That will tell us plenty about how close he is to being fully himself again.
76ers player to watch: Tyrese Maxey
Even though he was the only Sixer to top 20 points while being picked out by Boston’s defence, Maxey has to be better. With Joel Embiid out, the offence runs through him. He shot a middling 40% from the field and 25% from three, and he never really cracked the Celtics’ defence the way he usually does. If Philly want any chance of hanging around in this series, Maxey has to level up and carry them against a defence that looks as tight as they come.
If he can’t do it with his scoring, he has to create for the open men. If the rest of the group don’t pull their weight, though, the Sixers won’t be hanging around for long.
Tactical tweak to keep an eye on
At this stage, Nick Nurse must be tearing his hair out trying to find a fix for his team’s interior defence, which was ripped apart over and over in Game 1. What line-up can slow down Queta, Vucevic, Luka Garza and the drives? We’ll get the answer tonight, if there is one.
Mathodds prediction
Boston Celtics to win (2-0).
The 3 keys:
- For Boston, keep the foot down and don’t get trigger-happy from three if the shot isn’t falling
- The 76ers need shots to drop, and they need them early before the game runs away from them
- Find a way to slow Boston’s offence, especially Tatum and Brown
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