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Celtics' Playoff Kryptonite Bites Them Again In Game 2 Vs. 76ers
TL;DR
The Boston Celtics faced a setback in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, continuing a troubling trend in postseason performances. Historical data indicated strong favor for the Celtics, but Game 2 results have been a consistent issue.
Key points
- Celtics faced 76ers in first-round playoff series
- Historical trends favored Celtics before the series
- Celtics have struggled in recent Game 2s
Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown
Celtics' Playoff Kryptonite Bites Them Again In Game 2 Vs. 76ers originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Coming into their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, most of the trends and history strongly favored the Boston Celtics.
One that didn't, however, was their recent postseason performance in Game 2s.
The Celtics were unable to buck that trend on Tuesday, suffering a 111-97 loss to the 76ers at TD Garden.
Boston is now 3-5 over its last eight Game 2s, all at home, dating back to the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. By comparison, the Celtics are 23-8 in all other playoff games during that time.
Game 2 letdowns have become a concerning trend under Joe Mazzulla, although not necessarily a fatal one. Still, Tuesday's outcome was both shocking and disappointing for several reasons.
For starters, Boston was heavily favored coming off its historic Game 1 victory. After destroying Philadelphia by 32 points in the series opener, the Celtics were 14.5-point favorites in Game 2 with for the Sixers. Instead, they were the ones who lost by 14 points, suffering their biggest defeat since March 4.
Q&A
What are the Boston Celtics' recent playoff struggles in Game 2s?
The Boston Celtics have consistently underperformed in Game 2s during recent playoff series, which has become a concerning trend for the team.
How did the Celtics perform against the 76ers in their playoff series?
In their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics faced challenges in Game 2, which has historically been a difficult game for them.
What historical trends favored the Celtics before facing the 76ers?
Prior to facing the 76ers, historical trends indicated that the Celtics had a strong advantage in their playoff matchups, but this did not translate to success in Game 2.
