Boston Celtics vanquish Philadelphia 76ers 139-89 as Jared McCain shows promise
The Philadelphia 76ers ran into a buzzsaw early on as the Boston Celtics steamrolled them 139-89 in a preseason blowout.
Without their star players—Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George—Philadelphia’s young squad was no match for Boston’s championship-caliber lineup.
The Celtics raced to a 25-4 lead early in the first quarter, thanks in large part to a dominant performance by Luke Kornet, and the 76ers never recovered.
Game Notes
Philadelphia rolled out a lineup full of young talent, with head coach Nick Nurse starting Jeff Dowtin, Jared McCain, Ricky Council IV, KJ Martin, and Guerschon Yabusele.
Meanwhile, Boston didn’t hold back, fielding a starting lineup of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Luke Kornet.
The difference in experience was clear from the tip-off, and Kornet made the most of it by scoring 11 of Boston’s first 14 points. Defensive lapses and a lack of interior presence haunted the 76ers from the start.
Luke Kornet sets tone for Boston
Philadelphia’s defensive struggles were evident, and Kornet took advantage, dominating the paint and setting the tone for the Celtics.
The 76ers made their first adjustments by bringing in rookies Adem Bona and Justin Edwards, but the inexperience showed as Bona quickly racked up fouls and turnovers.
By the end of the first quarter, Boston had built a commanding 40-18 lead, with Tatum and White sinking three straight three-pointers to close out the period.
To combat this, the 76ers’ first substitutions of the night were rookies Adem Bona and Justin Edwards. Matters only got worse for Philadelphia as Bona committed two fouls and one turnover in just four minutes.
It didn’t take long for the reigning champions to crack this game open as the 76ers found themselves down 40-18 to conclude the opening frame. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White combined for three three-pointers in the final minute of the quarter.
Jared McCain showed flashes
While the game was never close, there was a silver lining for Philadelphia: rookie Jared McCain. McCain has impressed throughout the preseason, and he continued to show flashes of his potential in this game.
He handled the ball well, made smart reads off the pick-and-roll, and showed glimpses of being a future contributor for the 76ers. McCain finished with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, making him the lone Sixer to score in double figures.
Despite McCain’s efforts, the Celtics kept their foot on the gas, particularly from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday were effective in the second quarter, and Boston’s reserves continued to pile it on in the third, as Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Lonnie Walker IV, and Xavier Tillman combined for eight three-pointers in that period.
Despite Nick Nurse going knee-deep into the bench, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla felt it was necessary to close the second quarter with his starting lineup, despite the game being well out of reach midway into the first quarter.
Boston rode the hot hands of Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday, who scored seven of his nine points in the second period, to increase their already widened lead to 23 points at intermission.
It only got worse for the 76ers
Joe Mazzulla finally pulled the plug by emptying his bench a few minutes into the third quarter, but the Celtics kept their foot on the gas and then some.
Boston’s reserves Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Lonnie Walker IV, and Xavier Tillman caught fire, combining for eight threes within the period. The Celtics finished the game shooting 23-47 from beyond the arc.
The 76ers were down a fatal 45 points heading into the final frame. Jared McCain continued to be the team’s only bright spot as he tacked on eight more points in the period.
McCain was able to muscle his way to the hoop in one-on-one situations and pop a mid-range jumper off the dribble and while his efficiency and shot creation is still a work in progress, tonight was encouraging.
The 76ers were outmatched from the start, with Boston’s 54-point lead at one point reflecting their dominance.
While the young Sixers squad took their lumps, it was a night for the team to evaluate its depth. Rookies Justin Edwards, Judah Mintz, and others saw extended minutes, but it was Jared McCain who stood out as the lone bright spot in an otherwise rough outing.
Philadelphia will look to regroup as they continue their preseason road trip on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. Hopefully, the return of stars like Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey will provide the 76ers with the spark they need to get back on track.
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Mandatory Credit: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
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