BOSTON – The first game back from a long, successful road trip can be an adventure; the kind that’s truly unpredictable.
It certainly was for the Boston Celtics Wednesday night as they went into the half tied at 61 with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers, winners of their last three just like the Celtics, were trying to push the pace as much as possible with traps at half court and long outlet passes after rebounds.
There were a handful of stretches where the Celtics weren’t seemingly able to keep up. And then, they’d make a few shots, lead by more than a possession or two, and seemingly be on their way to taking over only for the Sixers to push back and make it a game once again.
The Celtics got off to a horrible start, turning the ball over in each of their first three possessions as the Sixers jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
A string of baskets by Jae Crowder got the Celtics on the scoreboard, but it remained a tightly contested game with the score at the end of the first, 29-all, reflecting this.
Boston got off to a better start in the second quarter, but the Sixers seemed to respond to every Boston run with one of their own. And aiding their play was the fact that they were making a good amount of hustle plays.
Here are the Stars, Studs and Duds from the first half of tonight’s game.
Boston Celtics
STARS
Isaiah Thomas: The points continued to pour in for Thomas, just like they seem to do every game. He led all Celtics with 18 first-half points.
Robert Covington: If it wasn’t for early foul trouble, there’s no telling how big a first half he would have had scoring the ball. Despite two early fouls, Covington still managed to lead the Sixers with 18 points in the first half.
STUDS
Jae Crowder: His 11 first-quarter points really kept the Celtics afloat early on.
Gerald Henderson: An efficient first half, he had 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting.
DUDS
Al Horford: He played more than 11 minutes in the first half, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. The 6-foot-10 Horford was a non-factor most of the half, scoring just three points with two rebounds and an assist.