The Boston Celtics dominated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, winning 121-87. Despite Joel Embiid’s return to the starting lineup after a two-week absence due to a sprained knee, the 76ers struggled to keep up with Boston’s impressive 3-point shooting and dribble penetration. Philadelphia’s starters didn’t even play the entire fourth quarter as the Celtics took control of the game. However, Embiid had 15 points and five blocks in 27 minutes, and overall looked physically ready to play.
While Embiid returned in Game 2, James Harden’s performance dropped dramatically. After scoring a spectacular 45 points in Game 1, Harden went 2-for-14 from the field in Game 2 and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. Philadelphia had a dismal shooting night, finishing under 40% overall and making only 6 of 28 from 3-point range. 76ers Coach Doc Rivers said their offense was the biggest problem of the night.
Despite this loss, Philadelphia considers their road trip to be highly successful with Embiid’s return and Game 1 victory that stole home-court advantage from Boston. They now shift to the City of Brotherly Love for Game 3 on Friday night, where Embiid will be honored before the game. The 76ers will aim to maintain control over home court while Embiid works on building up his conditioning in the coming days.
