The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 to spoil Joel Embiid’s return from an appendectomy for a 3-1 lead within the first-round playoff sequence on Sunday evening.
Payton Priitchard led the Celtics with 32 factors, whereas Jayson Tatum had 30 factors and 11 assists, and Jaylen Brown added 20 factors.
Boston led by 32 factors for the second time within the sequence and outrebounded the Sixers 51-30.
However, Embiid led the 76ers with 26 factors in 34 minutes, simply 17 days after having an appendectomy.
The 2-time scoring champion missed seven straight photographs earlier than changing a three-point play within the third quarter to chop their deficit to 23.
Embiid had an appendectomy in Houston on April 9 after being stricken with appendicitis in a single day. He returned to the court docket Sunday carrying a protecting brace round his midsection and was cleared to play about 40 minutes earlier than the scheduled tipoff.
Tyrese Maxey dropped 22 factors as he took a backseat to Embiid and took solely three photographs within the first half.
For the Celtics, Brown and Tatum mixed for 50 factors in a Sport 3 win and solely 13 within the first half of Sport 4, and used a whopping 14-rebound edge within the first half that sparked a 13-0 run in second-chance factors to construct a 21-point lead.
Pritchard buried a protracted 3 on one leg to finish the primary quarter and provides Boston a 34-18 lead.
The Celtics stay up for ending the sequence at house on Tuesday evening.
