Sixers Beat Celtics Behind Dominant Showing from Embiid

The Sixers would face the Boston Celtics for the third and final time this season on Tuesday night, looking to sweep the season series. They would do just that, winning by a final score of 106-96. This is the first time the Sixers have swept Boston in the season series since 2001.

After missing Sunday's game, Joel Embiid would return to the lineup against Boston. This is a matchup he has had great success with in the past, and this game would be more of the same. In just under 33 minutes on the floor, he would go off for 35 points and attempt 20 shots from the foul line.

When Doc Rivers spoke with the media after the game, he said at one point Embiid turned to him and said "I'm back."

Ben Simmons has seen some major backlash for his play in the team's recent stretch, but tonight might have been a glimpse of him breaking out of his slump. Despite some struggles early on from the foul line, he would turn in a good all-around performance.

When all was said and done, Simmons would have 12 points, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals. He would also shoot an effective 4-7 from the floor. It wasn't a breakout performance in any sense, but Simmons looked much more confident and engaged on the floor in this one.

One player who would come alive for the Sixers is Danny Green. The veteran marksman would come out of the gates firing, finishing with 17 points. Most impressively, he did it on great efficiency, hitting six of seven shots on the floor.

The Sixers would have some frenetic team defense against the Celtics, and it would pay huge dividends. Boston would struggle taking care of the ball, coughing it up 20 times. Those turnovers would result in 21 points for the Sixers.

Heading into this matchup, the size advantage was more than apparent. This height advantage would serve well as the Sixers would out-rebound Boston by 10. Not only would they dominate them in rebounds, but in second-chance points as well. The Sixers would end the game with 20 second-chance points, while the Celtics would have only eight.

Not only was the team defense strong, but the individual defense as well. The key to beating Boston is slowing down their three-headed scoring monster, and the Sixers would do just that.

Kemba Walker (14 points) and Jaylen Brown (17) would have solid performances, but the same could not be said for Jayson Tatum. He would end the game as Boston's leading scorer with 20 puts, but it would take him 17 shot attempts to reach that mark. On top of his scoring struggles, Tatum would also turn the ball over three times.

This was a good performance on both ends from the Sixers as their start this road trip off on a high note. Most importantly, they now have two days to recuperate before they take the floor again. Their next matchup will be on Friday as they take on Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.