Celtics Dominate 76ers In Game 4 Behind Tatum's 36 Points
The Boston Celtics took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers with a 112-98 victory in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup on Tuesday night. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Jaylen Brown added 26 points as the Celtics pulled away in the second half.
The game, played at TD Garden in Boston, saw the Celtics clamp down defensively after halftime, holding the 76ers to just 42 second-half points. Joel Embiid finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia, but the 76ers struggled from three-point range, shooting just 28.6% as a team.
This matchup is trending nationally as the Celtics now sit one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. The rivalry between these historic franchises always draws significant attention, especially with MVP candidate Embiid facing off against Boston's star duo of Tatum and Brown.
Key stats from the game show Boston's balanced attack, with Derrick White contributing 17 points and Al Horford grabbing 12 rebounds. For Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey scored 18 points but shot just 6-of-16 from the field as Boston's defense focused on limiting his penetration.
The series shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 5 on Thursday night, where the 76ers will attempt to stave off elimination. ESPN's postgame coverage highlighted how Boston's defensive adjustments after Game 3's loss proved decisive, particularly their ability to limit Philadelphia's transition opportunities.
Social media reactions focused on Tatum's dominant performance, with many analysts noting this marked his third 30-point game of the series. The Celtics improved to 5-1 at home this postseason, while the 76ers fell to 1-4 on the road in the playoffs.
With the potential closeout game looming, sportsbooks immediately adjusted the series odds, making Boston heavy favorites to advance. The winner of this series will face either the New York Knicks or Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
