Celtics coach hints at delicate factor that led to comeback 76ers win

The Celtics just couldn’t get any momentum going as they headed toward an early night for their starters. The shorthanded 76ers built up a 26-point lead with less than three minutes left in the third quarter as it seemed like the bench guys were about to be summoned to close out the game.

Instead, the Celtics stormed back for a shocking comeback win over the 76ers. They first cut the deficit down to 14 points heading into the final quarter. Then they took the lead midway through the frame, steamrolling past the Sixers courtesy of a 38-16 fourth quarter. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla revealed postgame that, despite his team’s woes, the fight was still there. It also didn’t hurt that he challenged them at halftime, according to Jayson Tatum.

“I just liked our guys’ mindset,” Mazzulla told reporters in Philadelphia. “I was kind of studying their body language. It looked like they really, really wanted to do what it took to win. Kind of stuck with them and they delivered. I was proud to coach them this game.”

Mazzulla said the Celtics let their offense affect their defense. It also didn’t help the Sixers hit 14-of-25 of their 3-pointers through the opening three quarters. So even though they were without Joel Embiid, Paul George and others, Tyrese Maxey and the supporting cast came to play and knock down shots.

But the Celtics’ fortunes and math changed through that fourth quarter. They started to heat up late in the third before unleashing a barrage of 3s. The C’s hit 8-of-12 of their 3s and 15-of-22 of their field goals overall in the fourth quarter. Tatum was masterful down the stretch with 25 points and eight assists in the second half.

“We just had to be honest with ourselves at halftime,” Tatum said. “They had 20 points in transition. Our competitive spirit wasn’t where it needed to be. Joe was like, ‘Yo, if you’re tired. Just tell me. I’ll sit you guys down. Let the stay ready group play.’ We just had a choice to make. … We just had to keep fighting. They brought the best out of us.”

It was just one game over the course of an 82-game season, but the Celtics showed some gutsiness Sunday. They’re now on a three-game winning streak for the first time in a month as it’s been an up-and-down several months. While nobody put anything extra on a win in early-February, it was clear the Celtics enjoyed the process of the victory Sunday.

“I told the guys, in the NBA, you get few chances where you get to really see your guys do something special in the regular season,” Mazzulla said. “I felt like their approach to that was it.”

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