Tatum and Brown Lead Celtics Past 76ers in Game 3 for 2-1 Series Lead

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 25 points to power the Boston Celtics to a 108-100 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Friday night. The win gave Boston a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 in Philadelphia.

Tatum let loose a decisive 3-pointer late in the game that silenced the crowd and halted a potential 76ers rally. After making the shot, he pounded his chest in an emotional celebration, acknowledging the long road back from injury.

“It may not seem like it because I’m back playing, but it was a very, very long time for me not to be doing what I love to do,” Tatum said after the game. “I can’t stress it enough, the fact that I just obtain to put my uniform on and run out there with the team is a win for me.”

The Celtics overcame a surprise Game 2 loss at home to regain control of the series. Tatum contributed significantly in the fourth quarter, combining with Brown for 19 of Boston’s 29 points in the final period. He made 5 of 9 three-point attempts and played 42 minutes.

Tatum returned to action for the final 16 games of the regular season after missing significant time due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon. During that stretch, he averaged 21.8 points while shooting 41 percent from the field.

In Game 1 of the series, Tatum scored 25 points in a Boston rout. He followed that with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists in Game 2 despite the loss.

The duo of Tatum and Brown, often referred to as “The Jays,” have been central to Boston’s recent success. Both were drafted by the Celtics with the third overall pick in consecutive years – Brown in 2016 and Tatum in 2017.

Through the 2017-18 regular season, Brown averaged 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, while Tatum averaged 13.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Boston finished that season with a 55-27 record, securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

During the 2018 playoffs, the duo began to showcase their potential. Brown averaged 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while Tatum averaged 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the postseason.

The Celtics have used their core of Tatum and Brown to reach six Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and win one NBA championship since they began playing together. Both players have earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors, with Brown also being named NBA Finals MVP.

Looking ahead, Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Sunday in Philadelphia as Boston looks to extend its lead to 3-1. The Celtics will aim to build on the momentum from their Game 3 victory, which showed resilience after dropping Game 2 at home.

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