Boston

Rozier, Tatum Lead Celtics Past Sixers in Comeback Victory

Terry Rozier's legend continues to grow in Boston.

Rozier scored 20 points, including key three-point shots late in the game, to spark the Boston Celtics to a 108-103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday night at the TD Garden in Boston.

Jayson Tatum added 21 points as the Celtics roared back from a 22-point first-half deficit, taking a 2-0 lead over the Sixers in their Eastern Conference semifinals.

"They definitely punched us in the mouth ... We just had to bounce back," said Rozier, whose play this year has earned him the nickname "Scary Terry."

Philadelphia led by five with 5:48 left to play after a layup by Ersan İlyasova. But the Celtics tied the game with a step-back three pointer by Rozier and two free throws by Al Horford.

Rozier pushed the lead to four with a three-pointer with 3:36 left to play. Boston would not relinquish the lead, and two late free throws by Tatum sealed the deal.

JJ Redick led Philadelphia with 23 points. Meanwhile, star point guard Ben Simmons scored only one point.

The victory came three days after the depleted Celtics surprised many by handily beating the rested Sixers in Game 1. The series now moves to Philadelphia, where the Celtics will look to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

Thursday's win did not come easily for Boston. The Sixers were suffocating on defense early, holding the Celtics to just 36.8 percent from the field in the first quarter.

Redick paced Philadelphia's strong first frame with 13 points, leading his team to a 31-22 advantage.

The Sixers extended their lead to 22 with 6:41 remaining in the half on a Robert Covington three-point shot.

But the Celtics ended the second quarter on a furious 16-3 run, keyed by a flurry of three-pointers.

In the final 3:01 of the half, the Celtics converted four three-pointers, including two by Rozier. An alley-oop dunk by Jaylen Brown in the waning seconds pulled the team to within 5.

The Celtics continued to surge in the third, sparked by Tatum, who scored 10 in the quarter. His dunk with 2:24 left in the quarter gave Boston an eight-point lead.

Brown, who sat out Game 1 with a hamstring strain, scored 13 points. He came off the bench with 7:14 remaining in the first quarter. Less than a minute later, he came up with a steal and thunderous dunk in transition, forcing Philadelphia to call a timeout.

Marcus Smart, who replaced Brown in the starting lineup, provided early offense for Boston, scoring 8 points in the first quarter, including two three-pointers.

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