Celtics Drop 123 on 76ers in Game 1 and Turn It Into a Very Expensive Practice Session
Boston dominates from start to finish while Philadelphia searches for answers—and possibly a reset button.
The Boston Celtics opened their playoff series by dismantling the Philadelphia 76ers 123–91, and calling it a “Game 1” almost feels generous. This looked less like a playoff battle and more like Boston decided to run a full-speed rehearsal while Philadelphia accidentally showed up to watch.
From the opening minutes, the Celtics came out sharp, aggressive, and very clearly not interested in easing into the series. Shots were falling, defense was tight, and the ball movement made everything look simple. Meanwhile, the 76ers were trying to keep up, but it felt like they were constantly one step behind—like arriving at a movie 20 minutes late and trying to figure out what’s going on.
By the second half, things had already gotten out of hand. Every time Philadelphia tried to string together something positive, Boston responded immediately. A quick run, a couple of clean looks, and suddenly the lead was even bigger. At some point, it stopped being about a comeback and started being about damage control.
The Celtics didn’t just win—they controlled every part of the game. Offense, defense, pace, energy… all of it. And they did it without looking rushed or out of control. Just efficient, confident basketball that made 123 points feel almost casual.
Game 1 goes to Boston in dominant fashion, and they now lead the series 1–0 with all the momentum. For Philadelphia, the task is simple but not fun: forget this game as quickly as possible and find a way to make Game 2 look like an actual contest. Because if this continues, the series might move very quickly—and not in their favor.
