As Christmas Day came, so did one of sports’ top traditions, a day full of NBA action. Among the games found in the action-packed schedule, the Philadelphia 76ers took on the Celtics in Boston. The Sixers had only faced the Celtics on Christmas Day once previously, which resulted in a 121-114 loss in overtime.
Desperately, Sixers fans wanted little more for the holidays than simply to beat Boston. Thanks to a gutsy team performance, Philadelphia managed to get their fans exactly what they asked for as the team outlasted the Celtics, upsetting the reigning champs at home and sending Boston fans home disappointed this holiday season.
Tyrese Maxey makes history
Philadelphia won this game together, there was no way an individual effort could have overcome a team has difficult as the Celtics. With that being said, the efforts of Tyrese Maxey truly stood out. Over his career, Maxey has faced the Celtics a total of 14 times in the regular season. When looking at his last four, it seems Maxey has found his footing against the Sixers’ most hated rival.
In his first 10 matchups against the Celtics, Maxey averaged just 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in 25.5 minutes a night. In his last four, Maxey has averaged 27.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. Ultimately, the playoffs are the only setting that matters, but it’s unquestionably a positive development.
It was a historic effort by Maxey in this game. Finishing with 33 points and 12 assists, Maxey became the first Sixers to put up 30-plus points and 10-plus assists on Christmas Day. Some late minute miscues almost wasted the effort, but Maxey and the Sixers were able to hold on, ensuring quite the Merry Christmas.
Playoff Caleb came early
All season long, fans have clamoured to see some semblance of the playoff performer the Sixers had signed in the offseason. Early season injuries, both to Martin and the rest of the team, led to plenty of forced shots and sub-par play. A recent three game respite gave Martin the opportunity to heal from a shoulder injury that had lingered throughout the season so far. In each of his games since his return, Martin has continued to improve his play.
Against Boston, when the Sixers needed him in peak form, which Martin has historically reserved for the postseason, he came through with aplomb. Scoring a season-high 23 points on a career-high seven made threes, Martin
It wasn’t just a quality offensive performance though, as Martin was also consistently tasked with slowing down Jayson Tatum and occasionally Jaylen Brown. On both sides of the ball, Martin suffocated the Celtics, earning praise from star Joel Embiid who, after the game, referred to Martin as “The Boston Strangler,” a nod to former Sixer Andrew Toney, who was known for his memorable performances against the Celtics.
Joel Embiid handles business
Speaking of Embiid, he handled his own business in this matchup against Boston. Despite a recovering knee and face, not to mention a spill in warmups that raised eyebrows, Embiid came into this game looking to establish himself on national tv and in his first season matchup against the Celtics.
Finishing the night with 27 points and nine rebounds, Embiid was exactly what the Sixers needed offensively. Defensively, that wasn’t quite the case as he consistently allowed open shots beyond the arc to Al Horford, not the first an likely not the last time we’ve seen that. Despite his defensive perimeter struggles, which helped lead to his plus/minus of -18 on the night, Embiid worked within the confines of what the flow of the game allowed and took what the defense gave him, opening up the floor for both Maxey and Martin.
Up next for the Sixers
Philadelphia will next begin a four-game Western Conference road trip, beginning in Utah with a Saturday night matchup against the Jazz.
Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m., and you can catch the game live on NBC Sports Philadelphia or listen live as always at 97.5 FM, The Fanatic.
