The Boston Celtics extended their impressive winning streak to nine games in the NBA by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on Tuesday night. The Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown, who scored 31 points, and Jayson Tatum, who contributed 29 points.
With just over two minutes remaining in the game and Boston holding an 18-point lead, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla made the decision to rest key players including Brown, Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White.
Tatum, who played for 35 minutes, finished the game with 11 rebounds and eight assists, coming close to achieving his third career triple-double. When asked by NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin if he wanted to stay in the game to pursue the triple-double, Tatum humorously replied, “Nah. I turn 26 on Sunday. I’m getting old. I need some rest.”
Despite the Sixers narrowing the Celtics’ lead to just two points with 8:49 left in the fourth quarter, Boston responded with a 15-0 run to secure the victory. Tatum noted that the team has learned from past mistakes and experiences, which has helped them improve their performance in critical moments.
Boston’s shooting was impressive, with a field goal percentage of 52.7%, despite only making 5 out of 22 three-point attempts. The Celtics also dominated in the paint, scoring 64 points, which was a significant factor in their win.
The Celtics, who currently hold the best record in the NBA, will aim to extend their winning streak to 10 games when they face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
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