Celtics lose Jaylen Brown, hold on to beat Sixers 106-99

BOSTON (AP) —The NBA-leading Boston Celtics scrounged enough out of their benchto keep the Philadelphia 76ers at bay in the Eastern Conferenceplayoff race.

With three ofthe Celtics’ regular starters out — and Jaylen Brown soon to jointhem — Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White scored 19 points apiece tolead Boston to a 106-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers onWednesday night.

Brown, whomissed the previous game with a non-COVID illness, left the gameaftercolliding with Jayson Tatum under the basketwhenthey were both going for an offensive rebound.

Brownappeared to take Tatum’s elbow in the left side of his head. Hewent to the floor and was slow to get up; when he did, he wentstraight to the locker room, rubbing his left eye and temple.

The teamannounced at the start of the third quarter that he had a facialcontusion and would not return. After the game, coach Joe Mazzullasaid he had no more information, but Brogdon said Brown appeared tobe in pain when he left.

“I called himbut he didn’t answer,” Mazzulla said. “But I’ll get that ASAP. Ihope he’s OK.”

Tatum had 12points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Boston, which won forthe fourth time in five games to add to the NBA’s best record(39-16). The 76ers (34-19) are second in the Atlantic Division andthird in the Eastern Conference, having lost both matchups with theCeltics this season.

“Boston hasbeaten us twice, and Boston won the East last year. Boston is thebest team in the East. I said that before,” Sixers coach Doc Riverssaid. “It’s our job to prove that wrong. But we have a lot of timeto do that.”

Joel Embiidscored 28 points and James Harden added 26 points and 11 assistsfor the Sixers, who lost their second game in a row. They had wonnine of their previous 11.

Marcus Smart,Robert Williams III and Al Horford all missed the game withinjuries. Blake Griffin got the start and hit five 3-pointers for aseason-high 15 points, and Grant Williams scored 15 points andadded eight rebounds.

In all, theBoston bench outscored Philadelphia’s 31-21, with three other usualsecond-stringers contributing 49 points from the starting lineup.The Celtics made 19 of 35 from 3-point range.

“I could havemade some of those 3s,” Rivers told reporters. “Well, maybe not me.I was a poor shooter. But someone in this room could have madethose 3s.”

CATCHING UP

The Celticsled 98-87 midway through the fourth quarter before Matisse Thybulleand Harden hit back-to-back 3-pointers to key an 8-0 run. ButBoston scored on an inbounds pass from White to Luke Kornet with0.5 seconds to make it 100-95 with about three minutes left.

“I reallydidn’t think we played with the right spirit the entire game,”Rivers said. “They scored with .5 on the clock. I just thought ourdefensive discipline was poor. And when you play that way you don’tdeserve to win.”

White thenhit a 3-pointer the next time down. It was a six-point game withunder two minutes when Embiid put up a fadeaway from the foul linethat missed everything and went out of bounds. It was first ruledCeltics ball, the referees overruled themselves and awarded it tothe Sixers, then the Celtics challenged; the replay showed GrantWilliams got a piece of Embiid’s hand, not the ball.

Boston didn’tcapitalize on that possession but, after Embiid missed a 3, Tatumdrove for a floater that made it 105-97 with 37 seconds left.

TIP-INS

The Celticswere without Al Horford (swollen right knee), Robert Williams III(sprained left ankle) and Marcus Smart (sprained right ankle). TheNo. 9 Duke women’s basketball team attended the game, a nightbefore they are scheduled to play Boston College. Duke coach KaraLawson spent 2020 as a Celtics assistant. … Griffin’s season-highshad been three 3-pointers made and 13 points. ... Embiid picked upa technical foul in the second quarter.