76ers Even Series
- The Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston to even their first-round series 1-1. - Tyrese Maxey and James Harden (VJ/Maxey combined referenced) helped with a 59-point combined showing, and Brown scored 36 in the win. - The split resets the series and forces both teams to make quick tactical adjustments heading into Game 3 (x.com).
Philadelphia beat Boston 111-97 on April 21 to tie their Eastern Conference first-round series at 1-1. (nba.com) Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points with nine assists, and rookie V.J. Edgecombe added 30 points and 10 rebounds as the 76ers answered a 32-point Game 1 loss. (espn.com) Jaylen Brown kept Boston close with 36 points, but the Celtics managed 20 points in the fourth quarter and dropped their first home game of the series at TD Garden. (espn.com) The split erased Boston’s fast start from April 19, when the Celtics won Game 1, 123-91, behind 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Jayson Tatum. (espn.com) That leaves the No. 2-seeded Celtics and No. 7-seeded 76ers back at even terms heading into Game 3 in Philadelphia on Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m. Eastern. (nba.com) Philadelphia’s turnaround came from the perimeter as Maxey and Edgecombe combined for 11 made 3-pointers, and the 76ers “crush[ed] Boston from deep,” according to the league’s series recap. (nba.com) Boston’s own team site framed the result as another bounce-back test, publishing a postgame item under the headline “A Familiar Script: Celtics Eye Another Bounce-Back After Game 2 Loss.” (nba.com) Game 3 now shifts the pressure to Philadelphia’s home floor after two games in Boston, with the series schedule setting Game 4 for April 26 and a return to Boston for Game 5 on April 28 if needed. (nba.com)
