Two teams coming off noteworthy 3-point shooting performances will meet Sunday when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Boston Celtics.
Boston made 22 of 34 3-point attempts (64.7%) during Friday night’s 148-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics shot 66.7% from the field overall (52 of 78) after shooting 34.9% and scoring a season-low 84 points in Wednesday’s loss at Denver.
“We were due for some makes,” Jaylen Brown said following the win.
Nikola Vucevic turned in his best effort since he was traded to Boston from Chicago. He made each of his three 3-point attempts and collected 28 points with 11 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
“I thought our spacing was good,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought (Vucevic’s) screening was good. I thought we found the advantage quickly, and I thought we just kept hammering that, so it’s a credit to him and his screening and his execution, and then to the guys finding him in advantages to make plays for himself or for others.
“I thought we just did a good job reading the game. I thought we made the right reads throughout most of the entire game. I thought Vooch really looked comfortable in his offensive reads and his offensive screening. He unlocked a lot of stuff for us.”
Boston has a 6-2 record since it acquired Vucevic.
“Every day is a day we get better, so continuing it and continuing to find him in his spots and allow him to feel more comfortable is big-time for our team,” Brown said. “I think today was a great step forward. I like to see him aggressive. I think that’s a good sign for us, especially when teams are trying to double or trying to take certain parts of the game away.”
Tyrese Maxey passed Allen Iverson and set the franchise record for made 3-pointers in Philadelphia’s most recent game, a 124-117 victory over Miami on Thursday.
Maxey made five 3-pointers in the win and has 887 made 3-point field goals in 375 games in his NBA career. Iverson made 885 3-pointers in 722 games with the 76ers.
“I’m just happy, man,” Maxey said. “I’m blessed. I thank God for the opportunity, thank God for the Sixers organization drafting me, trusting me, believing in me. I thank God for both my coaches, Doc (Rivers) and (Nick) Nurse. They’ve instilled a lot of confidence in me.
“And lastly, my teammates, man. I gave a shoutout to Tobias (Harris) earlier. My rookie year, he told me I was a great shooter. Even though I wasn’t shooting as well as I wanted to, he told me I was a great shooter. And Joel (Embiid), man. He’s been on me about shooting 10 threes a game since probably my second or third year and I appreciate him for that.”
Philadelphia was 17 of 43 (39.5%) from beyond the 3-point arc during the win over Miami. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes each made three 3-point field goals. The victory extended Philadelphia’s winning streak to three games.
The 76ers will be without center Joel Embiid after an MRI on Saturday revealed he sustained a right oblique strain during the win over the Heat, the team said. Embiid, a seven-time All-Star and the NBA MVP for the 2022-23 season, will be sidelined for at least three games — including home contests against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday and the Utah Jazz on Wednesday — before being re-evaluated.
Sunday’s game will be the fourth meeting between the Celtics and 76ers this season. After Philadelphia posted a 117-116 road victory in the season opener for each team, the Celtics and 76ers split two games in Philadelphia. Boston won 109-108 on Oct. 31, and Philadelphia prevailed 102-100 on Nov. 11.
Boston is second in the Eastern Conference standings. Philadelphia is sixth.
–Field Level Media
