Celtics Smother Sixers: Pritchard and Tatum Dominate in 128-96 Blowout
The Philadelphia 76ers got their MVP back, but it wasn't enough to stop the Boston Celtics' juggernaut. Despite Joel Embiid returning to the lineup following his emergency appendectomy, the Celtics dismantled the Sixers 128-96 on Sunday night to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The Pritchard Show
The story of the night was Payton Pritchard. Starting in place of the injured Marcus Smart, Pritchard caught fire from deep, knocking down 6-of-9 from three-point range on his way to a game-high 32 points. His microwave scoring in the third quarter pushed the Celtics' lead to 30, effectively ending the game.
Jayson Tatum was equally surgical, orchestrating the offense with 30 points and 11 assists. Tatum's playmaking has reached a new level this postseason, as he consistently found Pritchard and Neemias Queta for easy looks.
Embiid's Gritty Return
Joel Embiid showed immense heart, finishing with 26 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back. However, the lack of conditioning was evident as the game progressed, and the Sixers' defense struggled to contain Boston's historic shooting night (24 total threes).
Key Game 4 Prop Angles (Results)
- Payton Pritchard OVER 12.5 Points - ✅ SUCCESS. Pritchard obliterated this with 32.
- Jayson Tatum OVER 8.5 Assists - ✅ SUCCESS. Tatum finished with 11.
- Joel Embiid OVER 22.5 Points - ✅ SUCCESS. Embiid scored 26 in his return.
- Celtics Team Total OVER - ✅ SUCCESS. Boston hit 128 points.
Series Outlook
The series returns to Boston for Game 5. The Celtics look like the clear favorites to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Sixers must find a way to stop the perimeter onslaught.
Game 4 Final Score: Celtics 128, Sixers 96.
