An ugly win is still a win, no matter what...
That was Boston's coach Joe Mazulla's message following the Celtic's 117-99 win against the Sixers.
"This game was probably one of our best games of the year," Mazzulla said.
"And it really gives us - from the standpoint of we were able to win a different way, and this game showed a template of how teams are going to guard us, and it gives us another thing to practice. I thought our guys did a great job."
The Boston Celtics pulled out the 46th win of the season on Tuesday, defeating the division rival Philadelphia 76ers on the back of a big second half, despite a poor performance from behind the arch.
The team only knocked down five three-point attempts, which was a season-low. The Celtics would win the rebounding battle 56-28 and dominate the second half.
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The Celtics started the contest slowly, as the team failed to get a big lead against the Embiid-less Sixers. That feeling would linger throughout the first half with the Cs taking a 53-51 lead by halftime.
The 76ers would try to cut the Celtic's lead from 14 to 11. However, Tatum then went on in the fourth quarter, chipping in 15 points to help lift the Celtic past the Sixers.
Jaylen Brown scored 31 points in a game for the Celtics in their win against the Sixers. Jayson Taytum had 29 points and Kristaps Porzingis dropped 23 points.
Derrick White came up big for the Celtics defensively, getting two steals and three blocks.
Tyrese Maxey led the way for the Sixers posting 32 points and five assists. However, without Embiid, he would have the Sixers lose four of their last five and are 4-8 since Embiid has been out.
Throughout the contest, the Cs only attempted 22 3-pointers, seven fewer than their previous season's low. They produced 20 fewer field goal attempts than Philadelphia but made up for that with 64 points in the paint (two points away from a season-high) and a season-high 34 made free throws.
Boston Celtics In the Playoffs
With 46 wins on the season, the Celtics are far away at first place in the Eastern Conference.
They could likely go back to the finals based on the way they're playing, with last night's win being another reason why.
The Celtics have shown they can win in a variety of different ways. Without the three-point game they were able to impose their will against the Sixers, winning the rebound game and scoring inside the paint.
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