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With the 76ers upping their intensity in Game 2, can Boston Celtics answer in Game 3?
TL;DR
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 of their playoff series, showcasing increased intensity. The Celtics must improve their defensive focus and offensive execution in Game 3 to avoid falling behind.
Key points
- 76ers won Game 2 111-97 against Celtics
- Celtics need improved defensive intensity for Game 3
- Tyrese Maxey highlighted the increased physicality of the 76ers
- Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stressed the need for better scoring
- Game 3 is critical for Boston to avoid falling behind
Mentioned in this story
Joe Mazzulla
Philadelphia 76ersBoston CelticsTyrese Maxey
The Boston Celtics showed up ready for business sin Game 1 of their first round series of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, and the Philadelphia 76ers did not, resulting in a 123-91 drubbing of the Sixers. But then Philly turned the tables on the Celtics, catching Boston unready for Philadelphia to match their intensity and focus. And between the Sixers exploiting weaknesses Boston was slow to address and an unfavorable early whistle from the officials that appeared to get under their skin, Philly hit all the right notes in Game 2 to win 111-97.
"We did a lot of different things, but we just stuck to our principles," said 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey postgame. "Played harder, played more aggressive, played more physical, played a more playoff basketball game. Paul (George) mentioned that last game that we didn’t make them feel like it was a playoff game – it felt like a walk in the park for them, but it felt like a playoff game to us."
"I think tonight, we did a good job of just making them feel like it was a playoff game as well," he added.
Q&A
What was the score of Game 2 between the 76ers and Celtics?
The Philadelphia 76ers won Game 2 against the Boston Celtics with a score of 111-97.
How did the 76ers change their approach in Game 2?
The 76ers increased their intensity and physicality, making the game feel more like a playoff match, which helped them secure the win.
What do the Celtics need to improve for Game 3?
The Celtics need to enhance their defensive intensity and offensive execution to avoid falling behind in the series.
Who is the Celtics coach and what did he say about the game?
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized the importance of scoring in close games and acknowledged that the team missed several good shot opportunities.
