After a rough game 2 loss the Celtics needed a bounce back win in game 3. They got it thanks to clutch shots by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Each Jay scored 25 points as the Celtics won a great game against the 76ers, 108-100.
There were no injuries to report for the Celtics, they started their usuals of Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta. Joel Embiid is nearing a return but it was not in game three. Philadelphia started Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre
Jr., Paul George and Adem Bona.
It was back and forth for the start of the game. Just like in game 1, Neemias Queta picked up 2 quick fouls so he had to go to the bench. Nikola Vucevic was once again the first big off of the bench for Boston.
The Celtics led 29-24 at the end of the first quarter. Jaylen Brown led the team with 7 points while Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic all had 6 points.
Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza were brought into the game to start the 2nd quarter. Both players made impacts with offensive rebounds and a made three.
BAYLOR "NO DIP" SCHEIERMAN 😎 pic.twitter.com/49i28HwVd8
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) April 24, 2026
The Celtics got hot from three in the 2nd quarter but the Sixers were still hanging around. The Celtics led 41-35 with 7:42 to go in the 2nd quarter after a VJ Edgecombe dunk led to a Joe Mazzulla timeout.
I didn’t think the Celtics played a great half. Too many turnovers and fouls committed and they gave up a bunch of offensive rebounds.
Boston did have the lead, up 54-47 at the end of the first half. It was still Brown leading the way in scoring with 11 points while Tatum and Vucevic were behind him with 8 each.
Vucevic started the 3rd quarter over Neemias Queta.
Paul George really got going in the third quarter, he had the Sixers first 8 points of the quarter and matched his first half total in the first 2 minutes of the quarter.
The Celtics built up a 9 point lead but 7 straight Sixers points cut the lead to 2 and a Joe Mazzulla timeout.
The third quarter was back and fourth as the Celtics could not pull away from the Sixers, in large part due to their turnovers.
The Celtics led 79-74 at the end of three. Jaylen’s 15 and Jayson’s 14 led the team in scoring but Payton Pritchard also needs to be shouted out, through 3 quarters, he had 12 points and was a +15.
It was the Tyrese Maxey show to open the fourth quarter for the 76ers. He had 8 points in the first 3:18 of the period as the Sixers took an 85-84 lead.
Just too many turnovers for the Celtics. They had 17 with just over 7 minutes to go in the 4th while giving up 21 points off of those turnovers.
The Celtics need more from Derrick White on offense. He has been so great on defense all season but he just hasn’t made his threes. He was 3/12 from the floor and 1/8 from three with just over 4 minutes to go in the game.
The Celtics took a timeout after a Kelly Oubre Jr. layup cut what was a 7 point lead down to 2 at 92-90.
Neither team was getting a lot of stops late in the game. Clutch threes from Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard kept the Celtics in the lead but the Sixers were running Paul George and Andre Drummond pick and roll and getting buckets every time because Nikola Vucevic was struggling to guard it.
After a pair of Kelly Oubre Jr. free throws cut the lead to 3, Nikola Vucevic missed an open three but a Derrick White offensive rebound and kick out to Jayson Tatum leading to a three put the Celtics up 6 and they did not look back.
Game. pic.twitter.com/8vm6N909Rq https://t.co/dbjNpjEpi6
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 25, 2026
The Celtics won the game 108-100 with 25 points from each Jay leading the way.
Boston shot 44% from the field and 43% from three while Philly shot 44% from the field and 34% from 3. Game 4 is Sunday night from Philly at 7 EST.
