Sixers discuss poor defensive effort in Game 4 loss to Celtics

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers entered Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday night looking to bounce back against the Boston Celtics and even the series 2-2 before the series shifts back to TD Garden.

That didn't happen. The Celtics jumped on the Sixers from the jump and cruised to a 128-96 win and now have a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Boston scored 34 points in the opening quarter--24 from its bench unit--and shot 52.2% from the floor in the opening quarter to set the tone.

The Sixers were a step behind all night long. The Celtics had six offensive rebounds in the first quarter, alone on their way to a 51-30 rebounding advantage for the game. On the night, Boston knocked down 24 triples and shot 48.3% from the floor. The Sixers just didn't have any response.

"We just didn't seem like any matchup could guard anybody one-on-one tonight," coach Nick Nurse said after the loss. "I think a lot of that was just we had them pushed out and bottled up and physical and really off kind of rhythm for a couple games, and there was none of that tonight. I'm just not sure. We just again, I think, what is it? I don't know. I don't know why we couldn't block out better, rebound better, move better on defense, or whatever."

The Celtics are a team that relies so much on perimeter play. Guys like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard will feast off dribble penetration, getting the team set up, and either kick out to open shooters--as they did often in Game 4--or finish at the basket. It was one of those nights for the Sixers.

"They just kind of just moved us around, pushed us around, offensively and defensively," Tyrese Maxey added. "They got it to wherever spot they wanted to get to. No resistance, and that's unacceptable. That's not our brand of basketball that we play."