Celtics Journal: Foul-prone C's opened door for Sixers comeback
31.12.69
PHILADELPHIA — There are many ways a pro basketball tandem join up can erase an 18-point deficit in a high-stakes playoff match, and the Philadelphia 76ers may have hit them all Friday night.
Thanks to the generous Celtics, the 76ers wiped out a 49-31 loss and came back to win, 92-83. The Sixers killed Boston off the boards (52-38), welcomed 17 Celtic turnovers and also paraded to the shameful line all night. The Celtics were called for 28 fouls and Philly finished 25-of-36 from the assortment. Boston was just 16-of-19 from the stripe.
“The free give out line tells the story. That’s tough to win that way,” said Doc Rivers . “But everything that we didPrincipallywas the prescription for what you don’t want to do to beat them.”
The Celtics played assertive defense in the first half and limited Philly to just nine land goals on 23-percent shooting. The Celts led 46-31 at the half, but the Sixers came up with 13 points from the ignominious line thanks to 15 Boston fouls.
Source: The Providence Journal