In a battle between two contending teams, the Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Boston Celtics on Saturday. This was a game that had some swing potential in the standings as these two teams jostle for position in the Atlantic Division.
On Saturday, the Celtics won in a contest that was close at the final buzzer. They put up a single-possession spread in the game, winning by 3 points. Jayson Tatum hit a three-point shot in the waning seconds to create the final spread. The final score was Boston 110, and Philadelphia 107 as Philly fell four games behind Boston in the standings. It may yet prove to be too big of a gap for Philadelphia to overcome.
Philadelphia 76ers: #5 Ranked Team at a Glance
- Overall record: 39-20
- Home record: 24-9
- Away record: 15-11
- Winning/losing streak: L1
- Last ten games: 7-3
Celtics @ 76ers Saturday: Joel Embiid scores 41
With the loss, one where Joel Embiid scored 41 points, the 76ers are now 39-20 overall on the season. This was a loss that really hurt their chances of claiming a divisional title in the Atlantic.
If they won, then the 76ers would have been just two games back with 23 games remaining in their schedule. A four-game deficit is going to be really hard to make up, especially since Philly is chasing an elite team. If you go by Boston's recent form, then it's possible that the Celtics only lose 4 more games for the balance of the season. In that scenario, Philadelphia would have to run the tables.
Boston Celtics: Recent Form Alert
- Boston Celtics were 35-15 (January 27th, 2023)
- Following Saturday's game, they are 44-17
- Boston is 9-2 in their last 11 games
The Celtics improved to 44-17 with the 3-point victory. Their next game will come on Monday when Boston travels to New York to take on the Knicks in a game that will feature two surging teams.
Further reading: NBA Power Rankings
