In a harder series than some expected, Joe Mazzulla likes what he sees from Boston Celtics

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics secured a 108-100 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their playoff series. Coach Joe Mazzulla praised the team's competitiveness and resilience despite challenges like turnovers and miscommunications.

Key points

Celtics won Game 3 against the 76ers 108-100
Joe Mazzulla praised team competitiveness
Celtics faced challenges with turnovers and rebounds
Series is more challenging than past meetings
Celtics lead the playoff series 2-1

Mentioned in this story

Joe Mazzulla

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersNBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

It might not have been a work of art, but the Boston Celtics came away with a 108-100 win vs the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of their 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs first round series with their Atlantic Division foes. Neither team found much separation in this contest, though the Sixers punched first and held a small lead throughout most of the first frame. Boston bounced back to take the lead in the second, but their grip never felt firm until the waning moments of the fourth quarter, the series now clearly more of a challenge for Boston that it has been vs. Philly in past playoff meetings. After the win, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stressed that Boston will find a way to win. "I thought we competed," said the Celtics coach. "Obviously there's stuff that we can get better at." "(We) had 17 turnovers, gave up 13 offensive rebounds, (had) miscommunications," he added. "But ... I liked our competitiveness, I liked our poise. I liked how we stuck with it."

Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla on the sidelines against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images "(We) came out of the second half, they went on a run," Mazzulla continued. "We managed that. I like our togetherness, like our poise, like our competitiveness and made plays." "And that's what you've got to do. You've got to make plays and credit to everybody -- everybody that played tonight made a winning or big time play." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Mazzulla likes what he sees from Celtics in tough series vs. 76ers*

Q&A

What did Joe Mazzulla say about the Celtics' performance against the 76ers?

Joe Mazzulla highlighted the team's competitiveness and poise, acknowledging areas for improvement such as turnovers and defensive rebounds.

How did the Celtics manage to win Game 3 against the 76ers?

The Celtics overcame a challenging game by taking the lead in the second half and maintaining composure in the final moments to secure the win.

What are the current standings in the Celtics vs. 76ers playoff series?

The Celtics lead the series 2-1 after their victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.