Watching the Celtics this season has been a lot like playing darts.
You can have a couple strong throws in a row, and think you have it all figured out, then the next one goes awry and hits your friend in the eye. It’s totally unpredictable, and it often comes without warning.
But, if your friend is OK, and you get another throw, you may be able to salvage a situation that once seemed like a lost cause. Sometimes, a night that starts inauspiciously may morph into a memorable story.
After falling behind by 26 points late in the third quarter on Sunday night, the Celtics responded convincingly to outlast the 76ers 118-110 in a thriller at Wells Fargo Center. It was quite ugly early, to say the least, then they played inspired basketball when it mattered most.
The Celtics’ comeback from 26 down matches the largest deficit overcome to win in the NBA this season (Clippers 113, Spurs 104 Nov. 4)
It’s the Celtics’ largest comeback since April 2021 when they defeated the Spurs after trailing by 32.
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) February 3, 2025
Here are 10 takeaways:
1) It was a mess to start.
Yes, it was a magical comeback, but let’s not pretend it was rosy the entire way. The Celtics looked out of sorts defensively and missed shots they usually make on the other end.
They had trouble with the zone, couldn’t contain Tyrese Maxey (34 points) and let Guerschon Yabusele take over.
Trailing 90-64, it would have been easy to surrender. Instead, they came alive.
2) It started with Jayson Tatum.
It’s safe to say the second half was one of the better halves of Jayson Tatum’s career. He was decisive, relentless and in command, and he scored 25 of his 35 points to will the Celtics back.
When the 76ers doubled him, Tatum made the right read. When they didn’t, he scored almost every time. Simply put, it was an MVP-caliber performance.
3) They attacked the basket in the second half.
It’s a stat that almost sounds incomprehensible, but according to the Celtics broadcast, the 76ers entered with the worst 2-point defense percentage-wise in NBA history. That’s kind of nuts if you think about it.
The Celtics bailed them out by taking, and bricking, 3’s in the first half, then they made a deliberate shift in the second and it worked well. Boston ran its offense from the inside out, which opened everything up and led to points in the paint and more organic, in-rhythm 3’s.
4) Sam Hauser provided a lift.
Sam Hauser was a key cog in the comeback. He finished with 12 points and was a game-high plus-18 in 24 minutes.
Hauser helped give the Celtics life when they needed it most.
5) Payton Pritchard would have loved this game.
Payton Pritchard – who had played in 151 straight games before missing this one due to an illness – would have had a blast out there. He may not have let it escalate to 26, and he almost certainly would have played a part in the comeback.
Jaden Springer played seven minutes and was a non-factor, and the Celtics missed Pritchard’s creativity most of the night.
6) They improved their defense on Maxey.
Maxey had 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the first half and got just about whatever he wanted.
In the second, he was 2 for 7 and scored 11 points. The Celtics will take that all day. Maxey stood out at the beginning, then blended in and looked timid during the fourth quarter as the 76ers unraveled.
7) They hit the magic number of 30-plus assists.
The Celtics had 34 assists, and have now won 29 straight when dishing out 30 or more. It’s not rocket science. Move the ball, generate high-percentage looks and hit open shots.
8) It shouldn’t have gotten to this point.
The 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Paul George, and the Celtics did that thing where they stoop to the level of their opponent. There’s no excuse for what happened in the first two-plus quarter.
This team is unpredictable, to say the least, but that’s just the way it is right now.
9) But, they never gave up.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little boost when you really need it and everything falls into place. They trusted what they do best and found a rhythm from the outside, then the comeback started to seem plausible.
When they cut to 14, it seemed well within reach. Then it was down to eight, and it seemed like it was inevitable. It was almost one of those games where one team storms back and then falls just short, but the Celtics ensured that didn’t happen.
When Jrue Holiday hit the dagger 3, you knew it was over.
10) It was an historic comeback.
The comeback matched the largest in the NBA this season and was tied for the third-largest in the last 20 years for the franchise.
It was just one half, but it reminded us what this team is capable of when it plays to its potential.
