The Boston Celtics powered past the Philadelphia 76ers with a 123-101 victory on Tuesday night in the first meeting of the season between the two rivals. Driven by an overwhelming perimeter shooting display, Boston improved its record to 9-2 while dropping Philadelphia to 9-3.
Perimeter Shooting Dominance and Key Highlights
Much of the pregame storyline focused on the narrative surrounding Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, which drew extra attention following their greeting on the court before tip-off. Once the game started, Boston quickly took control of the narrative through high-volume long-range shooting. The Celtics executed head coach Joe Mazzulla’s offense by converting 22 of their 49 attempts from three-point range.
Philadelphia struggled to match Boston’s outside efficiency, shooting just 11-of-37 from beyond the arc. That stark difference in perimeter shooting proved decisive. Paul George turned in a notable performance against his former team, while Brown dealt with foul trouble during the contest.
Boston’s defensive effort and consistent three-point scoring restricted Philadelphia’s ability to generate transition opportunities, which had been a staple of the 76ers’ early-season success. The loss underscored half-court offensive challenges for Philadelphia when perimeter shots fail to fall.
The Celtics and 76ers are scheduled to meet three more times during the regular season, with their next matchup set for Jan. 21.
