Jayson Tatum scores 35 points like Celtics Hand Sixers 14. Loss in 16 games

The Boston-Jayson Tatum barrel down the field for the outgrowing one-handed dunk, which already gave Celtics a 14-point first quarter pillow that would only grow when Thursday’s matchup against the 76s went on.

One evening when both teams were seriously concise, Tatum’s 35 points and seven rebounds the defending champions’ 123-105 win at TD Garden to handle the still rolling Sixers their 14th losses in 16 games.

“He definitely started off a good start,” said Sixers coach Nick Nurse about Tatum, who scored 18 first quarter points on 8-of-10 shooting. “But I look back on it and I think the first quarter was really what made us in. I just didn’t think we were moving well, just in general. Just up-floor speed (sheep) back in speed, pace of offense, rotations of defense. … It felt to me like the biggest thing. “

Sixers (21-41), who drew with as many as 30 points in the second half, played their second consecutive match without Star Point Guard Tyrese Maxey breastfeeding back and pinkie finger injuries. Paul George, meanwhile, was sidelined again with the groin’s tenderness after acknowledging that he was not 100% during Tuesday’s loss on Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Nurse repeated during his pregame news conference that he has not had discussions “with any” about formally closing George-as is 34 years old and has fought for annoying injuries through a disappointing first season in Philly-to the last 20 season matches. Last week, the team announced that former MVP Joel Embiid would miss the rest of the season to focus on dealing with a running knee question that limited him to 19 games in 2024-25.

Celtics (45-18), who played the second night of a home-to-back, was missing the All-Star Wing Jaylen Brown, Standout Big Man Kristaps Porzingis and former Sixers Jue Holiday and Al Horford.

But Boston still boasted their MVP athlete in Tatum, who also made up five rebounds and three steals in the first quarter to run his team to the early 33-19 lead. And Payton Pritchard, whose 19 points, six assists and four rebounds led Boston’s 59 benches at night. And Derrick White, who ended with 12 points and six assists despite having left the game in the first half with a tooth injury.

Sixers meanwhile shot 34% under what Kelly Oubre Jr. called a “dreadful” first half. Oubre ended with 27 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Rookie Justin Edwards added 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and four rebounds in his return from a sprained ankle. Lonnie Walker IV scored 17 points on 5-AF-10 from Deep Range from the bench while facing the A Boston team, which previously signed him for a training match, and then waived him before the start of the regular season.

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Celtics’ advantage grew to 63-43 when Pritchard rebound his own miss and buried a three-pointer with less than two minutes left before the break. Sixers closed this deficit to 87-77 late in the third, as Edwards and Walker struck down on the following three-Pointers and Oubre followed with an old-fashioned three-point game. But Celtics immediately responded with a 20-2 race, uncovered by three buckets in a row by Neemiah Queta early in the final frame.

Sixers returns the next home to a Sunday Matchup against Utah Jazz (19.30, NBCSP), before hitting the road again in two matches against Atlanta Hawks Monday (19.30, NBCSP) and Toronto Raptors Wednesday (7.30 pm, NBCSP).