Derrick White, Jayson Tatum lead short-handed Celtics over 76ers in matchup of East leaders
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Derrick White scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Boston Celtics to a 117-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in a matchup of the early pacesetters in the Eastern Conference.
Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 29 points and Jrue Holiday added 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for the Celtics (9-2), who were missing Jaylen Brown (non-COVID illness) and Kristaps Porzingis (right knee contusion).
“Everyone has to step it up a little bit,” said White, who was 7 of 12 from the floor. “Obviously, guys like J.B. and K.P., you can't do what they do. But you have to step it up just a little bit and I think that a lot of guys stepped up tonight.”
Philadelphia (8-3), playing its second game in a back-to-back and third game in four nights, got 20 points apiece from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. That total was well below the season-scoring average for both. The Sixers played most of the night seemingly with tired legs and struggled to adjust defensively as the Celtics whipped the ball around.
“The physicality on the ball, we were not able to get into things as crisply as we would like to,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “It's not always easy coming off a back-to-back like that and it took us a minute to get into the game. I think that we gave up some easy offense and dug ourselves a hole.”
White took charge of the offense early in the fourth quarter, running toward the rim and mixing between penetration and outside shots that seemed to throw Philadelphia's defense.
“I didn't say it in those words, but he kind of knows that,” Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “With the matchups that we had, his efficiency was sky high. And when we can get him into those pick and rolls with his right hand, it's a good effective play for us. He's one of those guys who just shows up and makes the big play.”
Sam Hauser and Al Horford took the places of Brown and Porzingis in the starting lineup and had productive moments, with Horford - a long time starter who has adjusted to bench life- scoring 14 points and providing a big block of a driving layup by Maxey that ended with White hitting a backbreaking 3-pointer with 4:47 left that extended the Celtics' lead to seven points. Horford was 4 for 8 from beyond the 3-point line for a Celtics team that built its lead to 17 points at one point in the game.
“The only difference is the starting and the not starting,” Horford said. “Besides that, this is what I do for the most part. If I have to guard on the perimeter, guard on the post, create energy in different ways, shoot 3s, I'm trying to do whatever I can to help our group.”
Embiid, who was been on the injury report with left hip soreness for the second straight game, was a minus-25 in his 34 minutes on the floor. In the second half, Philadelphia's high-powered offense was held to just 49 points after scoring 36 points in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Will face the Raptors on Friday in Toronto in an NBA In-Season Tournament game.
76ers: Travel to Atlanta for an NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Hawks.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Al Horford vs. Joel Embiid (Robert Covington gains possession) | |||
11:41 | +3 | De'Anthony Melton makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Maxey assists) | 0-3 | |
11:23 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
11:19 | Tyrese Maxey defensive rebound | |||
11:08 | Tyrese Maxey misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:06 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
10:53 | Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:48 | Tyrese Maxey defensive rebound | |||
10:41 | Tobias Harris misses two point driving layup | |||
10:39 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
10:35 | Robert Covington shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
10:35 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-3 | |
10:35 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-3 | |
10:13 | Al Horford blocks Joel Embiid's two point turnaround jump shot | |||
10:10 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
9:53 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving layup | 4-3 | |
9:42 | +3 | Tobias Harris makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Maxey assists) | 4-6 | |
9:30 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving layup | 6-6 | |
9:30 | Joel Embiid defensive goaltending violation | |||
9:17 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point cutting dunk (Joel Embiid assists) | 6-8 | |
8:53 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point jump shot | 8-8 | |
8:39 | Tyrese Maxey misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
8:35 | Robert Covington offensive rebound | |||
8:35 | +2 | Robert Covington makes two point tip dunk | 8-10 | |
8:31 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point driving finger roll layup | 10-10 | |
8:31 | Joel Embiid shooting foul (Jrue Holiday draws the foul) | |||
8:31 | Jrue Holiday misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:28 | Jrue Holiday offensive rebound | |||
8:21 | Jrue Holiday misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
8:19 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
8:10 | De'Anthony Melton misses two point driving layup | |||
8:07 | Robert Covington offensive rebound | |||
8:07 | +2 | Robert Covington makes two point tip dunk | 10-12 | |
7:54 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
7:52 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Robert Covington misses three point jump shot | |||
7:36 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | |||
7:17 | De'Anthony Melton defensive rebound | |||
7:08 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point driving layup (De'Anthony Melton assists) | 10-14 | |
6:55 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot | 13-14 | |
6:40 | Tyrese Maxey misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
6:37 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
6:23 | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Al Horford assists) | 16-14 | |
6:03 | +2 | Robert Covington makes two point turnaround bank hook shot (Joel Embiid assists) | 16-16 | |
5:52 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point cutting layup (Derrick White assists) | 18-16 | |
5:52 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
5:32 | Joel Embiid misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:27 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
5:23 | Jrue Holiday misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
5:18 | Dalano Banton offensive rebound | |||
5:18 | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point tip layup | 20-16 | |
4:57 | Dalano Banton shooting foul (Robert Covington draws the foul) | |||
4:57 | +1 | Robert Covington makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-17 | |
4:57 | +1 | Robert Covington makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-18 | |
4:42 | Dalano Banton misses three point jump shot | |||
4:40 | De'Anthony Melton defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Robert Covington misses three point jump shot | |||
4:31 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
4:15 | Al Horford misses three point jump shot | |||
4:12 | Sam Hauser offensive rebound | |||
4:11 | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Sam Hauser assists) | 23-18 | |
3:45 | Patrick Beverley misses two point driving hook shot | |||
3:43 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
3:26 | Dalano Banton misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
3:24 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
3:21 | Joel Embiid turnover (lost ball) (Dalano Banton steals) | |||
3:17 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point running dunk (Sam Hauser assists) | 25-18 | |
3:01 | Joel Embiid misses two point driving layup | |||
2:59 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
2:56 | Jrue Holiday turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:56 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
2:42 | Marcus Morris Sr. misses two point jump shot | |||
2:40 | Jrue Holiday defensive rebound | |||
2:37 | +3 | Svi Mykhailiuk makes three point running jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists) | 28-18 | |
2:24 | Marcus Morris Sr. turnover (bad pass) (Jrue Holiday steals) | |||
2:19 | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point running finger roll layup | 30-18 | |
1:59 | Patrick Beverley misses three point jump shot | |||
1:56 | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | |||
1:43 | Dalano Banton misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
1:40 | Patrick Beverley defensive rebound | |||
1:36 | Marcus Morris Sr. misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:33 | Joel Embiid offensive rebound | |||
1:33 | Dalano Banton shooting foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
1:33 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-19 | |
1:33 | +1 | Joel Embiid makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-20 | |
1:16 | Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:12 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
1:04 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point driving layup (Patrick Beverley assists) | 30-22 | |
0:52 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 33-22 | |
0:40 | Furkan Korkmaz misses three point jump shot | |||
0:37 | Luke Kornet defensive rebound | |||
0:32 | Jayson Tatum misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
0:28 | Svi Mykhailiuk offensive rebound | |||
0:28 | +2 | Svi Mykhailiuk makes two point putback layup | 35-22 | |
0:06 | Patrick Beverley misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:04 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
0:03 | Patrick Beverley shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
0:03 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-22 | |
0:03 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-22 | |
0:00 | Danuel House Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:40 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 39-22 | |
11:22 | +3 | Jaden Springer makes three point jump shot (Paul Reed assists) | 39-25 | |
11:13 | Jayson Tatum turnover (bad pass) (Jaden Springer steals) | |||
11:09 | +2 | Jaden Springer makes two point running dunk | 39-27 | |
10:46 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 41-27 | |
10:35 | Jayson Tatum personal foul (Tyrese Maxey draws the foul) | |||
10:25 | +3 | Tyrese Maxey makes three point pullup jump shot | 41-30 | |
10:04 | +2 | Luke Kornet makes two point alley-oop dunk (Payton Pritchard assists) | 43-30 | |
9:55 | +2 | Tyrese Maxey makes two point driving finger roll layup | 43-32 | |
9:43 | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point driving finger roll layup | 45-32 | |
9:28 | Jaden Springer turnover (traveling) | |||
9:12 | Luke Kornet turnover (bad pass) (Robert Covington steals) | |||
9:07 | Paul Reed turnover (bad pass) (Svi Mykhailiuk steals) | |||
8:55 | Jump ball. Robert Covington vs. Derrick White (Paul Reed gains possession) | |||
8:51 | Derrick White turnover (lost ball) (Robert Covington steals) | |||
8:38 | Jaden Springer offensive foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
8:38 | Jaden Springer turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:28 | Tyrese Maxey shooting foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
8:28 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-32 | |
8:28 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-32 | |
8:06 | Robert Covington misses three point jump shot | |||
8:03 | Paul Reed offensive rebound | |||
8:00 | +2 | Paul Reed makes two point layup | 47-34 | |
7:44 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
7:43 | 76ers defensive rebound | |||
7:24 | +2 | Robert Covington makes two point driving finger roll layup (Paul Reed assists) | 47-36 | |
7:04 | Paul Reed blocks Jayson Tatum's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
7:00 | Jaden Springer defensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Sam Hauser blocks Tyrese Maxey's two point running finger roll layup | |||
6:59 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
6:59 | Tyrese Maxey technical foul | |||
6:59 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
6:59 | Jayson Tatum misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
6:59 | 76ers defensive rebound | |||
6:57 | Tyrese Maxey turnover (bad pass) (Luke Kornet steals) | |||
6:45 | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | |||
6:42 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
6:31 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point driving floating jump shot | 47-38 | |
6:21 | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | |||
6:15 | Luke Kornet offensive rebound | |||
6:15 | Luke Kornet turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
5:54 | +2 | Jaden Springer makes two point driving layup (Tobias Harris assists) | 47-40 | |
5:43 | Jrue Holiday misses two point driving layup | |||
5:40 | Jaden Springer defensive rebound | |||
5:38 | Derrick White shooting foul (Tyrese Maxey draws the foul) | |||
5:38 | +1 | Tyrese Maxey makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-41 | |
5:38 | +1 | Tyrese Maxey makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-42 | |
5:20 | Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:17 | Paul Reed defensive rebound | |||
5:08 | Paul Reed misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
5:05 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
5:03 | +2 | Sam Hauser makes two point running reverse layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 49-42 | |
4:37 | +3 | Paul Reed makes three point jump shot (Tobias Harris assists) | 49-45 | |
4:24 | Jrue Holiday misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
4:21 | Jrue Holiday offensive rebound | |||
4:19 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 52-45 | |
3:55 | Tyrese Maxey misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:55 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
3:35 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
3:32 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
3:17 | +3 | De'Anthony Melton makes three point pullup jump shot | 52-48 | |
3:14 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
2:55 | Svi Mykhailiuk turnover (bad pass) (Joel Embiid steals) | |||