Sixers face familiar fate as C's, Tatum dominate

BOSTON -- Since the Philadelphia 76ers took down the Celtics in a Game 7 at the old Boston Garden in 1982, the two division rivals have squared off six different times in the playoffs. And, on all six occasions, it has been Boston that's emerged victorious.

And while plenty of caveats can be said after the Celtics cruised to an easy victory over the 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, it's going to take a lot for Philadelphia to avoid that streak going to seven.

"That was Celtics basketball," Celtics star Jaylen Brown said after Sunday's 123-91 win. "We've been a hard-playing team all year, that can't change now that the playoffs have started. But then it's just focusing in, honing in on the details and just winning the fight. Being the harder-playing team and just guarding.

"Our offense can't win us this series. I mean, our offense is important, but we got to make sure we guard. And I think tonight, we did a great job."

To say this game was a one-sided affair in an understatement. Philadelphia couldn't hit a shot, going 2-for-16 from 3 in the first half and 4-for-23 for the game, all while allowing Boston to create an 22-3 edge in points off turnovers. That's exactly the opposite of the sort of recipe an underdog playing without a star in Joel Embiid can afford to do if it wants to make this series competitive.

Boston, meanwhile, got wherever it wanted as they led wire-to-wire, including at one point pushing the lead to as many as 35. Jayson Tatum led the way with a stellar performance, including 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting with 11 rebounds and 7 assists in 32 minutes.

Sunday's game was the latest step in what continues to be an impressive return to play from a torn Achilles tendon for Tatum after making his season debut here against the Dallas Mavericks on March 6.

After he slowly ramped his minutes up over the closing weeks of the regular season, including playing 39 in a win over Charlotte and a loss in his return to New York, Tatum looked Sunday like someone who had hardly missed any time at all.

"It's part of the process," Tatum said of continuing to be asked about his recovery. "It will forever be a part of my story and obviously it's still fresh. Forty eight weeks [since the injury] this past Tuesday so no, I don't get sick of it.

"I understand the magnitude of the injury and the narrative around me coming back and everything in between. I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish and return to play and all those things. There were many days where I wasn't even sure I was going to play this season, let alone get a chance to play today, so I'm overly just kind of grateful that I'm in this position right now."