LOS ANGELES — Terry Rozier scored 29 points as Boston outmuscled Philadelphia, 117-101, to win the opening game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Monday.
Rozier was the top-scorer in a dazzling Celtics offensive display at the TD Garden, with Al Horford and Jayson Tatum also making hefty contributions.
Horford finished with 26 points while Tatum added 28 points as Boston surged into a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with a statement victory.
Horford later praised Rozier鈥檚 superb contribution.
鈥淚鈥檝e always seen that potential in Terry. I just think he鈥檚 taken advantage of the opportunity,鈥 Horford said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great experience for him to come into a playoff game of this magnitude and have such a great game,鈥 Horford added.
鈥淚 just think defensively we did a great job tonight, really containing them and just trying to play with pace at the other end.鈥
The third-seeded Sixers had advanced to the semifinals after a confident demolition of Miami in the opening round.
But the Celtics lineup look to be a vastly more challenging proposition for the Sixers, who saw Joel Embiid score 31 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.
J.J. Redick had 20 points for the Sixers, while point guard Ben Simmons had 18 points from 41 minutes on the court.
Yet it was the shooting prowess of Celtics ace Rozier that caught the eye as the 24-year-old point guard kept Boston firmly on track for a well-earned win.
Boston, who advanced to the semifinals after a grueling seven-game series win over Milwaukee, have regrouped superbly after a slew of injuries which means they are without stars Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward.
Rozier鈥檚 29-point haul included 21 points from three-point range, a 77.8 conversion percentage from outside the arc.
Rozier credited his form to a determined training regime launched last year.
鈥淯p early every day. Putting in a lot of work, watching a lot of film. A lot of hard work over the summer,鈥 Rozier said.
鈥淲e got together yesterday and we had a plan. No matter who it is out there, we鈥檙e going to play hard and take care of business.鈥
Sixers coach Brett Brown was left to reflect on a below-par night for his team while acknowledging the Celtics had simply been better.
鈥淲e did have an off night shooting but a lot of that you can attribute to their good defense and them getting to our shooters,鈥 Brown said.
鈥淲e give them credit. I never really felt we were in the game. It sure felt like we were playing a good team today.
鈥淏ut defensively, offensively, this isn鈥檛 who we are. This was a poor game from us. We鈥檙e going to have to fix some things.鈥
Game Two takes place in Boston on Thursday. — AFP
