The Boston Celtics fell to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 with a score of 116-115. Despite the loss, the Celtics were content with their late game execution, having had a chance to win the game on the final play. Star Jayson Tatum recalled the strategy that paid off a year earlier, recounting the team’s game-winning layup from Tatum in the final seconds of a playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets in 2022.
The Celtics rebounded a miss from Kevin Durant and went on offense without calling a timeout, leading to a game-winning layup from Tatum in the final seconds. The buzzer sounded Sunday at the end of overtime before Marcus Smart could release a three-pointer that would have been the game winner.
Despite the loss, Tatum finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, and 6 assists with four blocks, a playoff career high in both rebounds and blocks. Al Horford also had an impressive game, finishing with five blocks, including three on Joel Embiid in the fourth quarter, making him the first player to block Embiid three times in a single quarter.
The Celtics almost stole Game 4, despite falling behind by 16 points and giving up a game-high 42 points to James Harden. They had a pair of chances to win the game, on the final possession at the end of the fourth quarter and in overtime. After overcoming a nine-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to tie the game, the Celtics inbounded the ball with 16.1 seconds remaining and elected not to call a timeout to set up the final play.
Tatum’s drive generated an open three-pointer from Smart, but he missed to send the game into overtime. In overtime, Harden hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining, but the Celtics once again decided to attack without stopping the game. Tatum found Smart for an open three-pointer, but the clock expired before Smart, who made the shot, let go of the ball.
The Celtics left Philadelphia with a few things to be encouraged with, despite the loss. The series is tied at 2-2, and Game 5 is set to take place in Boston.
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