Dario Saric scored a game high 25 points, and T.J. McConnell made his first start of the series and scored a career high 19 points Monday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-92 win over the Boston Celtics in game four of an Eastern Conference semifinal series at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Celtics still lead the best of seven series 3-1.
Philadelphia built a seven point lead in the opening quarter, before Boston rallied to take a 22-21 lead. The Celtics led with 4:30 left in first half by six, before a 15-5 76ers run had the home team in front 47-43 at the half.
Philadelphia built their biggest lead to that point at 76-62 with a 10-0 run in the third quarter, after back to back technical fouls on the Celtics Jaylen Brown and their head coach Brad Stevens. Philly led 76-65 headed to the fourth. The 76ers led by as many as 18 in the final quarter, and the Celtics never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.
Saric added eight rebounds and four assists to go along with his game high in points for the 76ers. McConnell shot 9-12 from the field and was a real spark for Philadelphia, also adding seven rebounds and five assists. Ben Simmons also had 19 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Joel Embiid added 15 points and 13 rebounds, as the 76ers avoided a four game sweep.
Rookie Jayson Tatum led five players in double figures for the Celtics with 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Marcus Morris had 17 points and five rebounds. Marcus Smart filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Terry Rozier had 11 points and eight rebounds, while Al Horford chipped in 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Shane Larkin left the game with a left shoulder injury and will be re-evaluated in Boston.
Game five will head back to Boston on Wednesday night at TD Garden, with tipoff slated for 8 pm.
