Check Out What Happened During the Celtics’ Ugly Win Against the 76ers

In a 125-119 victory over the Sixers, the Celtics overcame 20 turnovers, a struggle to stay engaged defensively, and Jayson Tatum’s expulsion.

With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Nicolas Batum out, the 76ers started Patrick Beverley, De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, and Paul Reed.

While that could create cause for concern about the hosts letting their guard down, Jaylen Brown quickly set the tone with a pick-six on the game’s first play.

 While seven turnovers in one quarter are far too many — especially against an opposition missing its two best players — when the Celtics weren’t coughing the ball up, they were working it inside-out, consistently creating quality, in-rhythm shots.

Boston finished the first frame with a lineup lacking Brown and Jayson Tatum.

A unit featuring Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Dalano Banton, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta outscored Philadelphia 8-4 in the final 1:51 of the period, including this three by Hauser just before the buzzer blew, giving the C’s a 44-36 edge after 12 minutes.

The second quarter was disastrous for the Celtics, who got outscored 36-25. They had 11 turnovers in the first half. They weren’t sharp defensively, either.

The Sixers produced 16 points in the paint, shot 63.6 percent from the field, and converted on 5/9 (55/6 percent) of their attempts from behind the arc.

The combination of Boston’s lack of ball security and treating defense like optional homework it didn’t have to do resulted in the visitors leading 72-69 at the break.

A third frame that saw the hosts outscore their guests 26-23 was low-scoring and relatively uneventful. That is, until Tatum tried to force his way through two defenders, only to find himself trapped.

As he swung his elbow through, he connected with Robert Covington’s face, resulting in a flagrant foul. That call drew the ire of the four-time All-Star, who continued arguing with officials Bill Kennedy and Nick Buchert.

Their conversation led to Tatum picking up his second technical and earning the rest of the game off, a decision drawing a chorus of boos from the TD Garden faithful.