The Boston Celtics completed the sweep of the first round over rival Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday afternoon, and in turn, Philadelphia’s stay within the NBA bubble in Orlando came to an end. The Sixers kept it close for three quarters, but ahead of Tobias Harris ran the game out late in the third quarter after hitting his head on the court, and Philly – already missing All-Star ahead of Ben Simmons – was just not in able to stop after that. Although Harris eventually checked back into the game, it proved too late. Eventually, the Celtics walked away with a 110-106 win, and they will now advance to the second round, where they will likely face the Toronto Raptors, as Toronto leads its series with a 3-0 win over Brooklyn.
Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics in Game 4. Walker finished with 30 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Tatum had 28 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. While doing all the series, Joel Embiid paved the way for Philadelphia. The big man had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and he got some help from Harris, who finished with 20 points and five rebounds. In the end, however, it was not enough.
While the Celtics will now prepare for their next opponent, the Sixers will fill an offseason with uncertainty. The season was a disappointing one for the Philadelphia, marred with problems with injuries and underwhelming performances. The team is underscored by all accounts, and as a result, there are big questions regarding the future of many players on the roster, the coaching staff, and even the front office.
