Celtics (1-1) at 76ers (1-1) Round 1 Game 3 4/24/26

[Who]

Embiid is probably coming back Game 4, but I also think White and the C's have absolutely not played well the last few games and I can't imagine it'll continue. They feel due. They still have flaws but they can overcome it with smarter basketball (fewer turnovers) and if White wakes up.

I do think a win like tonight can jumpstart things. Vucevic, Baylor and others definitely got experience (good and bad) in the clutch moments and that'll only help long term this spring.

Embiid's return might make things easier for the Celtics. Gives them a defensive liability they can attack in the PnR. A big man who can't move his feet.

Both Jaylen & Tatum enjoy isoing on Embiid.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

so refreshing watching scal, house, forsberg, etc after that HORRID announcer crew on prime. may we never ever see that crew again

[Goldstar88]

Embiid is probably coming back Game 4, but I also think White and the C's have absolutely not played well the last few games and I can't imagine it'll continue. They feel due. They still have flaws but they can overcome it with smarter basketball (fewer turnovers) and if White wakes up.

I do think a win like tonight can jumpstart things. Vucevic, Baylor and others definitely got experience (good and bad) in the clutch moments and that'll only help long term this spring.

Embiid's return might make things easier for the Celtics. Gives them a defensive liability they can attack in the PnR. A big man who can't move his feet.

Both Jaylen & Tatum enjoy isoing on Embiid.

Is Embiid even practicing? I?m not sure he?s coming back and even if he does, he won?t have his legs.

[SparzWizard]

Embiid is probably coming back Game 4, but I also think White and the C's have absolutely not played well the last few games and I can't imagine it'll continue. They feel due. They still have flaws but they can overcome it with smarter basketball (fewer turnovers) and if White wakes up.

I do think a win like tonight can jumpstart things. Vucevic, Baylor and others definitely got experience (good and bad) in the clutch moments and that'll only help long term this spring.

Embiid's return might make things easier for the Celtics. Gives them a defensive liability they can attack in the PnR. A big man who can't move his feet.

Both Jaylen & Tatum enjoy isoing on Embiid.

Is Embiid even practicing? I?m not sure he?s coming back and even if he does, he won?t have his legs.

Hope he don't look like Wilt Chamberlain in his playoff debut

[Phantom255x]

Embiid is probably coming back Game 4, but I also think White and the C's have absolutely not played well the last few games and I can't imagine it'll continue. They feel due. They still have flaws but they can overcome it with smarter basketball (fewer turnovers) and if White wakes up.

I do think a win like tonight can jumpstart things. Vucevic, Baylor and others definitely got experience (good and bad) in the clutch moments and that'll only help long term this spring.

Embiid's return might make things easier for the Celtics. Gives them a defensive liability they can attack in the PnR. A big man who can't move his feet.

Both Jaylen & Tatum enjoy isoing on Embiid.

Is Embiid even practicing? I?m not sure he?s coming back and even if he does, he won?t have his legs.

He was listed as doubtful today, and they said he'd do some warmups/drills and test it out. Then they announced like two hours before the game he would be out but it seems to indicate he could come back Game 4.

[SHAQATTACK]

TP

[radiohead]

Is Vuc still learning to play our system or is this what he is? I feel he can still be better than this.

[Phantom255x]

Is Vuc still learning to play our system or is this what he is? I feel he can still be better than this.

A little of both, he's not a good defender like Horford but he probably can grow into a decent one similar to Simons and even Garza after having played here for a while. He really needs to knock down some shots to justify playing time which he did tonight.

Queta though also needs to do better and be more available. Constantly getting in foul trouble isn't ideal for the team

[radiohead]

Looking at the boxscore, only 4 guys shot freethrows for us. JT, JB, DW, and Neemy. Wonder if that?s some sort of record.

[ozgod]

Holy smokes 24 pages for this one  I missed the game as I had to go out for dinner but thankfully I have Prime and hopefully it will let me watch it all again. Belated TPs for everyone

[ozgod]

White was interviewed after the game about his abysmal shooting performance and the fact that fans have been calling for his head and for him to be traded.

Tatum?s big shot was set up by a massive offensive rebound from White, who found redemption after another grisly shooting night. The guard made 3 of 12 shots, including 1 of 8 3-pointers, and is 5 for 25 from beyond the arc in the series.

After the game, the Celtics? leading figures sat in front of microphones and made it clear that White continues to contribute in essential ways, even if one frustrating aspect of his game seems to be missing.

Mazzulla said that anyone who doubts White must not care about winning, and he praised his competitive confidence. Tatum said three times in a row that the Celtics need White.

?Everybody here has got my back, so I got a lot of love and I?m thankful for the team and staff and everybody here,? White said. ?They?re staying with me through it all. It?s my job to go out there and help us win. If it?s not shooting, it?s got to be everything else.?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/24/sports/celtics-76ers-game-3/

[tenn_smoothie]

Sixers have Maxey, Knicks have Brunson. These teams have guys who are killers in the 4th yet the C's I'd argue don't. Tatum/Brown are great but a lot of times when it's a close/clutch 4th in the playoffs they struggle too or can't close it out.

I'll give them credit, Tatum and Brown throughout the 4th made a lot of great plays/decisions and obviously hit some big shots. Brown with those killer 2s inside, and Tatum with some massive 3s. Pritchard also with a huge 3 late.

I'd still like to see them be able to do it more consistently and they'll probably have to, but that's a gutsy win on the road even with momentum at times heavily on the Sixers side. Almost shades of 2023 Game 6 in the 2nd round down 3-2 when they just came alive in the 4th when all hope looked lost.

They probably won't be able to frontrun or blow teams out often like in 2024, so they'll need to figure out ways to win close games in the 4th and I think having Jaylen be more involved there might be the way to go with Tatum assisting in other ways

You're right, this is a different team than 2024 and they have to win in a different way than that team.
Just afraid Joe is too stubborn to change in the playoffs and win with this team's unique strengths.
Turn those bench guys loose at different times in games and win with hustle and rebounding.
Bench players need to play more minutes for this team to succeed.

[tenn_smoothie]

Is Vuc still learning to play our system or is this what he is? I feel he can still be better than this.

Yep, that broken finger was real bad luck because Vuce needed those games down the stretch to assimilate with his new team.
I believe he can help us, he and the coaches just gotta figure out the best ways for him to do that.

[Celtics4ever]

This game was a nail biter.  At least we made progress in matching their toughness.   This allowing drives to go uncontested is nonsense.  I really appreciate this win and it was Tatum who pulled us through.  I picked us to win in six and I am sticking to that.

Vuc has always been ok at offense and not so much on defense.   It is what is it is....

[scaryjerry]

Embiid is probably coming back Game 4, but I also think White and the C's have absolutely not played well the last few games and I can't imagine it'll continue. They feel due. They still have flaws but they can overcome it with smarter basketball (fewer turnovers) and if White wakes up.

I do think a win like tonight can jumpstart things. Vucevic, Baylor and others definitely got experience (good and bad) in the clutch moments and that'll only help long term this spring.

Embiid's return might make things easier for the Celtics. Gives them a defensive liability they can attack in the PnR. A big man who can't move his feet.

Both Jaylen & Tatum enjoy isoing on Embiid.

Is Embiid even practicing? I?m not sure he?s coming back and even if he does, he won?t have his legs.

He was listed as doubtful today, and they said he'd do some warmups/drills and test it out. Then they announced like two hours before the game he would be out but it seems to indicate he could come back Game 4.

Under his conditions I believe Joel makes the 76ers worse right now?.so who cares