Paolo Banchero had 23 points and seven rebounds for Orlando. Franz Wagner finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Cole Anthony came off the bench with 16 points.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 26 points. Jaylen Brown added 18, but made just 2 of 16 shots after scoring 12 points in the first 10 minutes.

Jalen Suggs hit two of the Magic’s four 3-pointers on a 17-0 run after Boston had taken a 62-50 lead early in the third quarter. The Celtics missed all eight shots during the game-changing run and went scoreless for 4:42.

The Magic finished 3-1 in group play. The loss dropped Boston to 2-1 with a game at home against Chicago coming up on Tuesday night. The Brooklyn Nets, who beat the Magic, are also 2-1 pending a game against Toronto on Tuesday night. Friday’s score left the Magic with a plus-17 point differential in group play and the Celtics are at zero.

If there is a three-way tie after group play, point differential will determine the group champion.

Boston center Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the third quarter with tightness in his left calf after scoring nine points and taking down four rebounds.

The Celtics also played without Jrue Holiday, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained right ankle.

Sam Hauser’s 3-pointer gave Boston an 11-point lead, the largest of the first half, after a first quarter in which Orlando shot 8 for 22 with eight turnovers.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Atlanta on Sunday night.

Magic: Host Charlotte on Sunday night.

Jaylen Brown had 26 points and eight assists for Boston, which improved the NBA’s best record to 12-3. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and Derrick White scored 13.

“I thought it was great. Obviously, the fans and everyone in the building knew this was No. 1 and No. 2 seed playing against each other, and that just adds more fuel to the atmosphere,” Porzingis said. “The energy was there. We played hard and they made a good push at the end and almost made a comeback, but we held strong.”

The Celtics opened a 21-point lead in the first half and never trailed. They held that double-digit edge until the Bucks made a late charge in the final two minutes, slicing it to 114-111 before Tatum hit three free throws in the closing 21.2 seconds.

Brook Lopez led Milwaukee (10-5) with 28 points. Damian Lillard had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to 21 points after scoring at least 40 in his last two games.

“When you miss a lot of shots, usually it’s what the opposing team is doing,” Lillard said of the slow start. ‘When you look at how we played, we just didn’t execute well. We didn’t have good pace to our offense, we didn’t make extra passes, we didn’t screen for each other; a lot of things we have to do.”

The Bucks, who scored 130 points or more in their last three games, had a five-game winning streak halted.

Tatum started despite being listed as questionable after scoring a season-high 45 points in an overtime loss at Charlotte in the last game.

The Celtics led 67-53 at halftime after shooting a sizzling 58.1%, including 12 of 23 from 3-point range.

“We were making great plays and executing for each other and we had our defensive connectivity,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.

They broke in front 10-0 and pushed it to 21-8 before opening a 54-33 edge on Brown’s three-point play midway through the second quarter.

Antetokounmpo was pulled by first-year coach Adrian Griffin after a dibbling violation. The two appeared to have words while the star was leaning against the scorer’s table facing the court, where he remained before checking back in on the next stoppage of play.

The teams made some of the biggest additions during the offseason, looking for supremacy in the East.

In late June, the Celtics acquired Porzingis in a blockbuster three-team deal that sent one of its longtime floor leaders, Marcus Smart, to Memphis.

The Bucks later added Lillard on Sept. 27, months after he requested a trade out of Portland. Milwaukee traded Jrue Holiday in that deal, and the Celtics acquired him from the Trail Blazers four days later.

Those players got involved right away, too, when Holiday picked up Lillard defensively on Milwaukee’s first possession and Porzingis challenged Antetokounmpo’s shot that caromed off the backboard on his initial drive to the basket.

“We knew neither one of us was going to win the championship tonight,” Lillard said of the energy in the building. “The thing that made it a high-level game is they were the first team in the East and we were the second. The winner walks away No. 1 right now, which means nothing. A lot of high-level players on their team, a lot of high-level on ours.”

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host the Wizards in an In-Season tournament game on Friday night.

Celtics: At the Magic in an In-Season tourney game on Friday afternoon.

Bridges hit a 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left in overtime and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a six-game home losing streak with an improbable 121-118 come-from-behind win over the red hot Boston Celtics on Monday night.

LaMelo Ball finished with 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Gordon Hayward added 20 points for the Hornets, who battled back from an 18-point deficit to end Boston’s six-game win streak.

Jayson Tatum had 45 points, but missed a free throw with 5.2 seconds left that would have tied the game after getting fouled on a 3-point shot. He made the first two before the crucial miss on the third one.

“I couldn’t believe he missed that last one, but we got the win and that is all that matters,” Bridges said.

Tatum couldn’t believe it, either.

“Was I surprised? Yeah, I was surprised,” he said “It felt good, just didn’t go in.”

He was more upset over the Celtics surrendering an 11-point lead with six minutes to play.

“We have to regroup,” Tatum said. “We had six wins in a row and it’s easy to get complacent and we paid for it tonight.”

After Tatum’s miss, the Celtics fouled Hayward, who made two free throws to put Charlotte back up by three points with 0.8 left. Bridges stole the inbounds pass to seal the win.

Mark Williams finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds for Charlotte. Coach Steve Clifford called it his best game since joining the Hornets.

Clifford said it was an important win for his team, but added “this league is not about a great win. it’s about can we come back and play well Wednesday night?”

Peyton Pritchard had 21 points on five 3s for Boston, which had its six game winning streak snapped.

Clifford said the decision to replace P.J. Washington with Bridges in the starting lineup is something that has been in the works for weeks. Charlotte also needed a spark after losing its last four games.

Bridges had averaged 18 points is his first two games back after missing all of last season and the first 10 games of this year while serving a 10-game suspension for his role in a domestic violence case.

Bridges didn’t shoot the ball well, but finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds while playing a team-high 45 minutes.

Tatum tied a career-high with 31 points in the first half and Pritchard added four 3s as the Celtics built a 65-54 at the break.

But Charlotte trimmed the lead to two with 22 seconds left when Williams put back an offensive rebound.

Jrue Holiday was fouled on the ensuing possession and had a chance to make it a two-possession game but missed both free throws with 10.3 seconds left, giving the Hornets a chance to tie or win the game.

Ball received the side inbounds pass, drove to the basket and scored to tie it with 7.2 seconds left.

Sam Houser had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but missed at the buzzer.

It was another huge performance for Ball, who is averaging 32 points over his last eight games.

The former All-Star was big in overtime, scoring on a left-handed layup high off the glass to give Charlotte the lead. With the game tied, Ball found Bridges on the left wing for an open look and the left-hander hit the go-ahead 3 to break the tie.

“I’m a little more healthy and I have some games under my belt,” said Ball, who was limited to 36 games last year due to ankle injuries. “My game has finally got there and I’m feeling better now.”

UP NEXT

Celtics: Return home to face Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

Hornets: The Hornets wrap up a five-game homestand on Wednesday night against Washington.

Porzingis’ dunk was followed by a flurry of missed shots including a 3-point attempt by Santi Aldama with 4 seconds left. Ziaire Williams’ 18-footer as time expired was blocked by Porzingis — his sixth of the game — as Boston held on to win its sixth straight.

Jayson Tatum finished with 20 points and Sam Hauser added 15 for Boston, including 5 of 7 from outside the arc. Tatum had nine rebounds and five assists, but committed eight of Boston’s 17 turnovers.

“We were just undisciplined. We didn’t execute defensively as far as our personnel and our tendencies,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points, while Aldama added a career-high 28 and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 17 points. Aldama, who also had 12 rebounds, was 11 of 27 from the field, including 6 of 15 from outside the arc.

“He was awesome,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Career night (scoring). Twelve rebounds, six assists. Six made 3s. He’s got so much versatility.”

“I’m lucky to have teammates and a coaching staff that trust me,” Aldama said. “Obviously, I believe in my shot, but everybody does.”

Memphis, with a makeshift lineup, stayed close through the night and even took the lead on several occasions in the second half. Memphis led 100-98 with 1:48 left. But the Celtics were able to pull out the victory as Porzingis converted a pair of free throws and the winning dunk.

There were seven ties and 18 lead changes.

Memphis, as it has done most of the season, played without key players. Last year’s leading scorer Ja Morant is serving a 25-game suspension to start the season. The Memphis frontline has been depleted by a season-ending injury to center Steven Adams, while backup Brandon Clarke is still recovering from an Achilles injury.

The injury report also includes point guard and former Celtic Marcus Smart, who sat out with a left foot sprain. Smart played his entire career with Boston before an off-season trade landed him in Memphis.

Meanwhile, the Celtics were at full strength, including Jaylen Brown, who was listed as questionable on the pre-game injury report.

Porzingis benefitted from going against the smaller Memphis lineup. Despite Memphis playing thin on the frontline, Porzingis, who finished 9 of 13 from the field, said the game plan was not necessarily to focus on that mismatch.

“We just played our game,” Porzingis said. “I tried to take advantage of some of the mismatches. It was just one of those games that kind of happened naturally.”

The Celtics shot 51% in the first half and held Memphis to 38%. Boston led 56-53 lead at the break.

“We got lucky to win that game” Mazzulla said.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Wrap up a four-game road trip Monday in Charlotte.

Memphis: Travels to Houston to face the Rockets and former teammate Dillon Brooks on Wednesday.

___

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Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Celtics won their sixth straight meeting with Toronto. Jayson Tatum scored 17 points for Boston, Jrue Holiday had 14 and White 13.

Sam Hauser and Al Horford each scored 11 points. Boston improved to 2-0 in tournament play after beating Brooklyn last Friday. The Celtics have won five straight overall.

“I felt like we did a good job tonight, but I thought it was one of our lesser performances,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It was the first time last year where we just weren’t the best version of ourselves.”

White agreed that the Celtics weren’t at their best against the Raptors.

“I kind of felt like we didn’t really have that extra gear, or that gear that we’ve been playing with for the year so far,” White said. “Sam came in and made some big shots, Al made some big shots. It’s just finding a way to win when you don’t have that gear.”

Brown (non-COVID illness) and Porzingis (right knee) returned after sitting out Wednesday’s win at Philadelphia.

Brown said he strained his groin “a little bit” when he slipped on the court late in the game. He was one of several players to lose their footing on the special tournament court.

A frustrated Brown said the condition of Toronto’s black and gray court was “kind of unacceptable.”

“The court was just slippery all game,” Brown said. “As players, we’re all here for the in-season tournament because it’s going to generate revenue, excitement, competition, et cetera. But you’ve got to make sure the floor is safe to play on. We can’t put our players out there and risk their health.”

Brown said he had no problem with Boston’s tournament court last Friday, but said he’s heard from other players around the NBA that they’ve been slipping on tournament courts.

“I think they need to make sure that’s an emphasis before somebody gets seriously hurt,” Brown said.

Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa said he slipped “a few times” against the Celtics. Achiuwa strained his left groin during training camp and has missed five games because of the injury.

“Coming back (from injury), I’m extra cautious,” Achiuwa said.

Toronto’s Scottie Barnes got open for a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left that would have tied the game, but his shot bounced off the rim.

Pascal Siakam and Dennis Schroder each scored 23 points in a losing cause as Toronto made its tournament debut, the last NBA team to do so. Gary Trent Jr. and Barnes both scored 14 points and Jakob Poeltl had 11.

Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby missed his third straight game because of a cut finger on his right hand, while Otto Porter Jr. was unavailable because of personal reasons.

Trent started after missing the previous three games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and musician Fat Joe attended the game.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Visit the Grizzlies on Sunday. Memphis guard Marcus Smart won’t face his former team because of a sprained left foot

Raptors: Host Detroit on Sunday.

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Tatum scored 17 in the fourth quarter, when Boston turned a 91-88 edge into a 17-point lead. After missing seven of his first eight 3-point attempts, he hit four straight in the last eight minutes, one on a 4-point play after the Knicks cut the deficit to three points.

Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Julius Randle had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who had won three in a row since opening the season 2-4, including a loss to Boston in their opener. New York was without RJ Barrett, who missed the second night of a back-to-back with a migraine headache.

The Knicks led by eight with 75 seconds left in the second quarter before Boston made three straight baskets, scoring nine of the last 11 points of the half and cutting it to 53-52 on Brown’s 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Boston led by as many as 10 late in the third quarter, but the Knicks closed to 91-88 when Brunson hit a long 3 with eight minutes left. Tatum answered with a step-back 3 and drew the foul, giving Boston a 95-88 lead. Jrue Holiday hit a 3 to make it a 10-point game.

Holiday surpassed 15,000 points for his career with a third-quarter 3-pointer.

Tatum was called for a technical for arguing about a foul call with about five minutes left in the game.

UP NEXT

Knicks: At Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Celtics: At Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

___

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Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes for the Celtics, who won their second straight after a 14-point victory over Brooklyn in their first NBA In-Season Tournament game on Friday night.

“I feel like we’re really far from being a finished product, a team that this is it,” Porzingis said. “We’re far from that still. … There’s going to be ups and downs. There’s going to be like three games where it’s going to look insane and three games where it’s going to fall apart and the fans are going to overreact.”

Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 17 points and seven rebounds. Dennis Schroder had 14 points and Jakob Poeltl 12.

Toronto, which had won its last two games — both on the road — shot just 10 for 37 on 3-point attempts.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla used a challenge — and was successful — with his team up 27 points and 3:27 remaining in the game.

“At the end of the day, my responsibility is to my players first,” he said when told the Raptors were upset. “It was a clear opportunity for me to try to empower the players, let them know I’m coaching you.”

The Raptors felt differently.

“That’s disrespectful,” Schroder said in the locker room.

Asked if its something they’ll remember Friday when the teams meet again in Toronto, he quickly said: “For sure.”

Brown scored 14 in the third quarter when the Celtics pushed their nine-point halftime edge to 24 points midway into the quarter. He started his scoring spree with a left-corner 3 and capped it with a putback jam, coming in on the baseline.

Brown had 28 points in the win on Friday. Tatum added 23.

“Both of them, elite players in this league,” Schroder said. “At the end of the day, we made it easy for them. We’ve got an opportunity on Friday to make it harder.”

Boston led 88-71 after three quarters.

With Brown on the bench at the start of the fourth, it was Tatum’s turn. He nailed 3s on back-to-back possessions, pushing Boston’s lead to 96-71.

Later, he set up Brown for a crowd-pleasing, fast-break jam that made it 101-73 with just over 8 minutes left.

With the Raptors misfiring early and often from 3-point range, it ended up being a relatively easy night for Boston’s starters with all of them on the bench enjoying the final minutes.

TD Garden had its traditional parquet floor a night after the tournament game on an NBA-mandated floor with a tournament-themed look.

Boston center Al Horford was back in the lineup after having Friday’s game off to manage a right-knee injury. He scored seven points with seven rebounds in 24 minutes.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Host the Wizards on Monday night, the first of four straight at home.

Celtics: Face the Knicks on Monday night, closing a three-game homestand.

His team sure played like it mattered a little more.

Jaylen Brown scored 28 points, making five of his team’s 19 3-pointers, to lead Boston to a 121-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Jayson Tatum added 23 points and 10 rebounds to help the Celtics snap a two-game skid and earn a victory in their tourney opener.

“It’s a learning curve. We’re still figuring stuff out. … Learning from one another,” Brown said. “Long season to go, and it’s all about building trust, building chemistry out there. “

Boston’s bench, which had struggled in back-to-back losses, contributed 37 points, getting 15 from Sam Hauser and 13 from Payton Pritchard.

Mazzulla said Pritchard’s impact was felt all over the court.

“To me, he changed the game for us,” Mazzulla said. “It’s easy to look at the scoring on the bench and feel like they’re not producing. But it’s so much other stuff that they do for us on a daily basis. … Tonight we got to see the other side of that.”

Lonnie Walker IV led the Nets with 20 points and seven rebounds. Trendon Watford added 14 points. Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie both finished with 12 points. Brooklyn dropped to 1-1 in East Group C play.

Cam Johnson, who had been dealing with a strained calf, scored 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in his first game since the opener.

“I think you see he gives us just a different dynamic,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “His ability to stretch the floor, to guard multiple positions. That’s with him not having a bunch of game minutes underneath his belt. He’ll continue to get minutes, continue to knock off some of that rust a little bit.”

Brooklyn outscored Boston 30-27 in the third quarter to trim what had been an 18-point deficit to just nine points entering the fourth. But Boston opened the final period with an 18-6 run to get it back up to 111-90 with just under seven minutes to play.

TD Garden gave up its trademark parquet floor for the night, flipping to an NBA-mandated tournament-themed look, complete with an image of the new NBA Cup trophy beneath “Boston” in green letters at midcourt.

The makeover didn’t take away the energy in the building.

The Celtics led by as many as 17 in the opening 24 minutes as they pushed the pace and also sizzled from the outside, knocking down 12 3s. Boston also took care of the ball with just two turnovers.

It added up to a 66-54 halftime edge.

Brooklyn played short-handed but did its best to match Boston’s early surge, getting 60 points on the night from its bench.

Ben Simmons missed his second straight game with hip soreness. Leading scorer Cam Thomas also was out as he begins rehabilitation on his sprained left ankle. It left the Nets short on designated ball handlers and made for at times choppy play in the halfcourt.

But they stayed close thanks to 11 first-half 3-pointers.

After winning six of their first eight games, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday said he likes how his team is accepting the challenge of finding ways to improve.

“I think it’s always good to know that we can get to another level,” he said. “Execution. Toughness. Effort. That’s things we can kind of hang our hats on every night.”

UP NEXT

Nets: Host Wizards on Sunday.

Celtics: Host Raptors on Saturday.

They hired a new coach. They traded a malcontent.

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are determined to show the new-look 76ers won’t suffer the same-old postseason fate.

Embiid had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Maxey had 25 points and nine assists to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their sixth straight win, 106-103 over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

The 76ers are the only 6-1 team in the Eastern Conference and their lone loss came on opening night.

They are 5-0 at home.

“New coach, new systems, bunch of new guys, just trying to get everybody up to speed,” Embiid said. “Let’s see what we can do.”

Kristaps Porzingis led the Celtics with 29 points and Derrick White, back after missing two games for the birth of his child, had 19.

The Sixers were amped for the first game between the long-time rivals since their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup last season.

The 76ers blew a 3-2 series lead and collapsed in Game 6 and 7 losses that ushered in a summer of upheaval. Coach Doc Rivers was fired and replaced by Nick Nurse. James Harden soon demanded a trade and never again played for the Sixers.

The Celtics didn’t stand pat after coming up a game short last season of making back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals. They acquired the 7-footer Porzingis and five-time all-defensive selection Jrue Holiday.

Throw in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in Milwaukee and the 76ers didn’t get pegged in the preseason as a serious contender in the East.

Maybe it’s time to reconsider.

“Boston got a lot better,” Embiid said. “They looked like they’re the best team in the NBA, by far. Good for them. Milwaukee, too, Obviously, adding Dame is huge. He’s amazing. That combination of Dame and Giannis, pretty good. Unstoppable.”

For a moment in Philly, the echoes of Game 6 seemed too familiar.

Jayson Tatum’s 3-pointer pulled the Celtics to 94-87 and flashed reminders of the decisive ones he hit late in Game 6 — he buried one 3 for an 84-83 lead and a second that made it 87-83 — for the playoff win in Philly.

His shot on Wednesday started another Boston comeback. Tatum hit another bucket that pulled the Celtics within four with 61 seconds left but Embiid answered with a fadeaway. Jaylen Brown hit a step-back 3 that made it 106-103.

Porzingis missed a 3 in the final seconds and the Celtics lost their second straight game.

“It was a really good look,” he said. “As I went into the shot, I kind of went into it as it was a mid-range shot. I jumped a little higher. I usually don’t do that for 3s. I just shot it bad.”

Tatum finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. The Celtics were 15 of 47 from 3-point range.

Tobias Harris scored 17 for the Sixers.

Amid the recent roster changes, the one constant for the Sixers is Embiid. The reigning MVP scored 13 points in the third quarter. His quarter almost seemed quiet compared to the 29 points he scored on 10 of 10 shooting in the third on Monday against Washington.

He buried a 3 from well beyond the top of the arc for a 72-68 lead that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Porzingis missed a dunk and Robert Covington — one of a handful role players acquired in the Harden deal — came right down and hit a 3. Embiid raised his arms, exhorting the crowd to get louder, as the 76ers closed the quarter up 81-71.

“Any time you’re playing against a great team, like Maxey and Embiid, if you’re down 10, you’re down 15 to 18 because of their ability to make shots,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Both teams were an Eastern Conference-best 5-1 coming in and the Sixers talked openly about using this game as an early-season measuring stick. They passed this one.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Brooklyn on Friday in an In-Season Tournament game.

76ers: Play Friday at Detroit in an In-Season Tournament game.

Jaden McDaniels added 20 points, and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 12 rebounds as Minnesota improved to 4-0 at home in a third consecutive victory.

Naz Reid scored 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter and helped the Timberwolves overcome foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with seven points in just 28 minutes before fouling out in overtime.

“They’re a championship-level team,” Gobert said. “They find ways to always stay in the game, always never giving up. We did the same. A lot of things didn’t go our way, but whoever came on the floor was ready to do what we do, was ready to bring us something.”

Jayson Tatum had 32 points and Jaylen Brown added 26 for the Celtics. Boston’s 6-0 start was its best since 2009-10.

Kristaps Porzingis, who was questionable before the game with a stye, scored 20. The Celtics were without starting guard Derrick White for the second straight game due to personal reasons.

“Very competitive and opponents are always going to bring the best out of us,” Boston coach Joe Mazzula said. “I thought we competed at a high level. I thought their defensive toughness outmatched our offensive toughness at times.”

Neither team led by more than eight in a matchup of teams with the best offensive and defensive ratings early in the season.

The Celtics were third in the NBA shooting 50.1% from the floor this season. Minnesota held Boston to a season-low 39.1% shooting, including an 11-of-29 mark from 3-point territory, and a season-high 18 turnovers.

“Their overall pressure bothered us on the offensive end,” Mazzula said. “So, that’s a good learning point for us.”

The game was an offensive stalemate late in regulation, with McDaniels scoring the final points on a 3-pointer for a 101-101 tie with 1:41 remaining. The teams combined for five missed shots and four turnovers in the final 90 seconds of regulation.

Mike Conley put Minnesota ahead for good at 106-105 on a 3-pointer with 3:08 left in overtime, then Edwards hit three consecutive jumpers to finish a 9-0 run.

McDaniels hit a jumper with 16 seconds left after Tatum had pulled the Celtics within three.

Edwards was 15 of 25 from the field and had nine rebounds and seven assists.

“He loves the moment,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “We know we still got to get better at closing out that game in regulation with some of our decision-making and ball movement and using the defense against them a little bit. But guys who like the moment are oftentimes few and far between. We’re lucky we have one on our team.”

UP NEXT

Celtics: At Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Timberwolves: New Orleans at home Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Tatum is the youngest player in franchise history to score 10,000 points. The previous record holder was Antoine Walker, who was 26.

“It’s kind of hard to process,” Tatum said. “In the moment, it’s a huge accomplishment. I’m extremely blessed to be part of such a great franchise. And I’ve just been fortunate to be on some really good teams; have some really, really good coaches and obviously have some great teammates that have helped contribute to 10,000 points along the way.”

With 5:05 remaining in the quarter, Tatum drove into the lane, spun and converted the layup while drawing a foul on Brooklyn guard Cam Thomas. Tatum then knocked down the free throw to give Boston a 52-48 lead.

Tatum, drafted third overall in 2017, is averaging 29.8 points per game this season. He finished the game with 32 points and 11 rebounds.

“He shows up to work every single day,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He puts in the work and and he dedicates his life to it. He doesn’t miss days. He doesn’t miss practices, games. And just his open-mindedness and wanting to be coached and wanting to be held to a high standard. When you have guys like that — that you can coach — it also allows you to bring the best out of everybody else and so he’s one of the guys that sets the tone for us.”

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Tatum was one of five players to finish in double figure scoring for Boston, which improved to 5-0 this season.

Jaylen Brown had 23 points for the Celtics, and Kristaps Porzingis added 22. Jrue Holiday recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Luke Kornet scored 11 off the bench.

Playing its second game in as many days, Brooklyn dropped to 3-3.

Cam Thomas led the Nets with 27. Spencer Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges each chipped in with 19. Dorian Finney-Smith contributed 14, and Lonnie Walker IV and Day’Ron Sharpe scored 13 and 11, respectively, off the bench.

Boston led 70-58 at halftime, but was outscored 30-21 in the third quarter and went into the fourth with a slim, three-point advantage.

Brooklyn cut the deficit to one, 96-95, on Dennis Smith Jr.’s 3 with 7:47 left, but the Celtics immediately responded with a 14-4 spurt over a two minute span.

Tatum scored nine of Boston’s points in the stretch.

Brooklyn closed to 110-102 on Bridges’ 3, but an Al Horford bucket and a Porzingis free throw extended the lead to 113-102.

Horford’s spectacular jam with 1:28 left essentially put the game out of reach.

The Nets were shorthanded as starting center Nic Claxton (sprained right ankle) and starting power forward Cameron Johnson (strained left calf missed) each missed their fifth straight game, and starting point guard Ben Simmons sat out with back injury maintenance.

“Just assessing where we are this time of the season,” Nets coach Jacques Vaughn said before the game, when asked about Simmons. “With the back-to-back — not saying that this will continue — but the maintenance is part of his progression right now for this part of the season.”

Without three-fifths of his regular starting lineup, Vaughn started Dinwiddie, Thomas, Bridges, Royce O’Neale and Finney-Smith. According to the Nets, it was Brooklyn’s fourth different starting lineup in six games this season.

Boston guard Derrick White missed the game due to personal reasons.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Visits Minnesota on Monday night.

Nets: Host Milwaukee on Monday night

On Wednesday night, Jayson Tatum helped them do it again.

“I think it’s more about not being bored,” said guard Jrue Holiday, one of eight Celtics to score in double figures in a 155-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers. “It’s not getting complacent and locking into every game, and each opponent.”

The 155 points was the most for the much-decorated franchise since the 1958-59 team that featured Bob Cousy and young stars Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn beat Minneapolis 173-139. Tatum had 30 points and 12 rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Celtics used a blistering start to pull away from the Pacers and remain unbeaten.

“We’ve got so many weapons,” guard Derrick White said. “You’ve got so much talent around you, it makes the game easy.”

One game after blowing out the Wizards in Washington, the Celtics returned home and beat the Pacers even worse. White (18 points), Jaylen Brown (16), Holiday (15) and Kristaps Porzingis (13) helped Boston open a 10-point lead in the first three minutes, making it 20 in the second quarter, 30 in the third and as high as 53 points in the fourth.

Sam Hauser scored 17 points and Payton Pritchard had 15 for the Boston bench, which outscored Indiana 46-33 in the fourth quarter to complete the rout.

“We’ve got everything, right? We’re in the paint. There’s a mid-range, and you have the 3. I feel like that threat makes us even harder to guard,” Holiday said. “I feel like we have a lot of bases covered.”

T.J. McConnell scored 18 points for the Pacers, who were missing point guard Tyrese Halliburton after he turned his ankle when he stepped on Jalen Smith’s foot in Monday in a loss to Chicago. Smith (knee) also sat out Wednesday.

Tatum had four points and three rebounds in a 14-0 run in the opening minutes that turned a two-point deficit into an 18-6 lead. White hit a pair of 3-pointers at the end of the first, when Boston scored 18 of the last 25 points of the quarter to open a 44-27 lead.

Indiana never got closer than 14 points after that, spending the last 21 minutes trailing by 30 or more and falling behind by 50 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game.

Notes: The Celtics shot 76% (16 of 21) from the floor in the first quarter. They made eight 3-pointers. … The Celtics had 75 points at halftime for the second straight game. According to the team, that’s a first for back-to-back games since at least the 1950-51 season. … Indiana was 5 for 37 from 3-point range and outrebounded 58-31.

UP NEXT

Pacers: Host Cleveland on Friday night in the NBA’s in-season tournament.

Celtics: At Brooklyn on Saturday.

It’s the second straight season the Celtics have begun with three straight wins.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 15 points in his return to Washington, where he spent his previous 1 1/2 seasons. Porzingis was traded to Boston in June and scored 30 points in his first game for the Celtics on Wednesday, setting a franchise record for scoring in a debut.

Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points for the Wizards (1-2), who trailed throughout and were behind by 26 points after 10 minutes.

Brown scored 16 points in the first quarter as Boston raced to a 42-19 lead. He had 27 points by halftime.

Brown hit his final basket midway through the third quarter as the Celtics built a 37-point lead, and coach Joe Mazzulla rested his starters for the final 12 minutes.

Tatum scored 17 points in the third quarter.

Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. tried everything he could to stop Boston’s onslaught, calling five timeouts in the first 30 minutes.

Wizards center Daniel Gafford missed the game with a sprained left ankle, and rookie Bilal Coulibaly, a first-round draft choice, started for the first time. He had nine points.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Indiana on Wednesday night.

Wizards: At Atlanta on Wednesday night to begin a four-game trip.

It hasn’t taken an ounce out of the rivalry’s intensity.

Derrick White had 28 points, including five 3-pointers, and the Celtics rallied to beat the Heat 119-111 on Friday night in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals.

Jaylen Brown added 27 points and six rebounds. Jayson Tatum finished with 22 points in the latest matchup of the East rivals, who’ve met in the conference finals three of the past four seasons.

On a team that has ridden the exploits of Tatum and Brown during their most recent playoff runs, this time it was White who shined down the stretch, scoring 14 fourth-quarter points.

“I’ve been here a couple of years and I know where guys are supposed to be at,” White said. “I’m just trying to get people in the right spots and lead from that way.”

Said Tatum: “The talent has always been there. He’s just starting to show more emotion. … I try to tell him to always be aggressive, don’t just look for me.”

He didn’t, and the Celtics improved to 2-0 with a new-look roster that is showing a poise late in games that it didn’t at times last season.

Boston and Miami split their four meetings last season. Miami then emerged in the playoffs after a seven-game slugfest in which it had a 3-0 series lead erased before beating the Celtics in Game 7 in Boston to advance to its seventh NBA Finals.

Friday’s matchup, the first of their three this season, at times felt like an extension of that series.

Neither team led by more than five points at the end of any of the first three periods, as both teams hovered near 50% shooting from the field. There were six ties and six lead changes on the night.

Tyler Herro, who sat out the conference finals with a hand injury, had 28 points and five of Miami’s 16 3-pointers.

“I liked our fight,” Herro said. “Obviously, there’s no moral victories in this. But Game 2, I think there’s a lot to take away from tonight.”

Bam Adebayo added 27 points and seven rebounds. Jimmy Butler finished with 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

“We’ve had this with them for four years since the (Florida) bubble. And literally it’s been a privilege to face them so many times. But both teams have changed. That’s the way this league goes. That’s the way life goes,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You just want to compete against teams you respect and have had battles with. They were better at it tonight.”

Miami led 88-87 entering the fourth quarter before Boston nudged in front 96-90 led by White, who scored eight straight Celtics points.

Boston’s lead grew to 109-102 with just over four minutes to play before Adebayo blocked Brown’s shot from behind. Butler collected the loose ball, sprinted ahead and was going in for a dunk when a trailing White chased him down and blocked Butler’s dunk attempt.

“The plays he made tonight were sick. They were just sick plays,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It’s the only way you can describe it.”

A turnover by White gave the ball back to Miami and Butler drew Kristaps Porzingis’ sixth foul on a putback attempt. Butler then knocked down two free throws to cut the Celtics’ lead to 109-104.

Boston got it back up to 112-104 on a layup by Brown and free throw by Tatum.

But another Heat flurry, capped by a 3-pointer by Kevin Love, cut the lead to 114-111 with 59 seconds to play.

White was fouled and connected on both free throws. Herro got open for another 3-point try but came up empty. The Celtics pushed the ball up the floor and Brown sealed it with a 3 from the wing.

“Tonight we were intentional,” Mazzulla said. “We attacked the right matchups. We got to our spots. … We still didn’t play great fourth-quarter basketball. But for Game 2 of what we’re trying to get to it was a good start.”

The Celtics began the night by honoring the victims of this week’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine with several acknowledgements. Boston players wore the warmups of their G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. In addition, the Celtics donned a “Maine” band on their jerseys in honor of the state as it recovers after a shooter killed 18 people and wounded 13 at a bowling alley and a bar there.

The remembrances also included a pregame moment of silence.

UP NEXT

Heat: Continue three-game road trip at Minnesota on Saturday.

Celtics: At Washington on Monday.

Porzingis finished with eight rebounds and four blocked shots against his original NBA team, showing why his new one is considered one of the NBA Finals favorites after acquiring the 7-foot-3 center and Jrue Holiday during the offseason.

Holiday had a key basket after the Knicks opened a six-point lead with 3:40 left before Porzingis scored Boston’s next nine points, including the 3-pointer that snapped a 101-all tie.

Holiday scored nine points. Derrick White had 12 for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.

RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each scored 24 points for the Knicks, who started slowly but opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to take their first lead of the game. They couldn’t hold on against one of the NBA’s best teams.

Porzingis was the No. 4 pick by the Knicks in 2015 and was an All-Star in 2017-18, but soured on the organization while recovering from a torn ACL. He was traded during the 2018-19 season.

Porzingis has developed into the player the Knicks had hoped, averaging a career-best 23.2 points last season for Washington.

He had three 3-pointers and 15 points in the first quarter, which ended with Boston up 30-18. But he didn’t take a shot in nearly eight minutes of playing time in the second and the Knicks cut it to 51-46 at the half.

Tatum scored Boston’s first nine points of the second half to push the lead back into double digits. The Knicks would charge back to tie it midway through the third on Jalen Brunson’s 3-pointer, but the Celtics went back ahead 82-73 as Porzingis beat the buzzer with a follow shot.

With Porzingis starting, Al Horford came off the bench for the first time since doing so six times in 2019-20 in Philadelphia. He had only done it only four other times in more than 1,000 career games, for Atlanta as a rookie in 2007-08.

Horford finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Brunson struggled to 15 points on 6-for-21 shooting. Julius Randle shot 5 for 22 en route to his 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

The Knicks missed 11 of their first 13 shots, making two dunks and nothing else.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Miami on Friday.

Knicks: Visit Atlanta on Friday.

When big-name stars would become available during free agency, Brown was often a potential trade chip.

As he prepares for his eighth season, his play has forced the narrative to be rewritten.

Last season was defining for Brown, who garnered his second All-Star selection and second-team All-NBA nod while helping lead the Celtics within a game of back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.

In July he cashed inm signing a five-year, $304 million extension, the richest contract in NBA history. It immediately thrust him onto a tier reserved for only the league’s most elite stars.

It comes with expectations and a weight that Brown has yet to experience. Not as the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2016, or even as a teammate of four-time All-Star and teammate Jayson Tatum. But on a new-look Celtics’ roster that has lost some of its loudest locker room voices, Brown says he is ready and willing to be the playmaker and leader the Celtics need to make the most of their current championship window.

“I feel great. I feel poised. I feel ready to have a great year,” Brown said. “I put in a lot of work trying to make plays, trying to get guys open. Trying to get our offense set. Seeing the game, reading the game. Overall, just being a better basketball player. Can’t wait to show it this year.”

In addition to locking up Brown long-term, Boston dramatically remade its core this offseason, flipping former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and rim protector Robert Williams III in a series of trades that netted 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis and defensive stalwart Jrue Holiday.

This all while second-year coach Joe Mazzulla shook up his coaching staff, bringing in assistants Charles Lee and Sam Cassell to help put Mazzulla’s stamp on the team in his second season.

It has required a reset of the locker room culture and called for new voices to step up. For most of their careers Brown and Tatum have been mostly content to let their play speak for them. But Brown acknowledges that this new group will need their voices to be louder than ever.

Still, his approach to this new team dynamic will be straightforward.

“Just stepping into it,” Brown said. “I think we’ve got a lot of voices that are no longer with us — Blake (Griffin), Grant (Williams), Smart. All very vocal guys. So, I think, definitely, hearing my voice, JT’s voice a little bit more this season.”

It’s what will help turn a collection of talent into a formidable team.

“Can’t just throw some guys out there and expect everything to work. Our habits are going to create our future and our success,” Brown said. “I’m excited about the journey.”

Last season, Brown averaged career highs in points (26.6), rebounds (6.9) and assists (3.5). The same is true for Tatum (30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists).

Yet both should benefit from the defensive length and ability to stretch provided by Porzingis and the defense and floor command Holiday brings.

Neither Brown nor Tatum will also have to facilitate as much on offense with Holiday’s proven ability to create for his teammates.

Still, there will likely be an odd man out at times with a top six featuring Brown, Tatum, Porzingis, Holiday, Derrick White and veteran Al Horford who are all used to garnering a certain amount of playing time.

It’s a good problem to have, Tatum insists.

“Essentially we’ve probably got six starters and we can only play five people. Only five guys can finish a game,” Tatum said. “So, between those six guys, any given night somebody might come off the bench. Somebody might not finish. And it’s on all of us to understand that whoever’s night it is, it’s for the better of the team. And we really have to buy into that. It’s not easy sacrificing, but at some point we all have to do it.”

It’s a view shared by Mazzulla.

“We’re all going to have to give up little pieces of ourselves until we got to where we want to get to,” he said.

Now it’s hard to picture a future at all between Harden and the 76ers.

The only Atlantic Division team with the look of a champion at this point is the Celtics, who the Sixers had down and nearly out five months ago.

With Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis arriving in Boston to join Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics should easily be the class of the division and maybe even once again the entire Eastern Conference after falling one game shy of the NBA Finals in 2022-23.

The New York Knicks should be back in the playoffs, the Brooklyn Nets could be and the Toronto Raptors, under a new coach, will try to bounce back after missing them.

The question mark is Philadelphia, at least until the saga with Harden has played out.

The 76ers opted not to give him a contract extension after he struggled in the final two games as the Celtics came back to take the East semifinals in seven games. Harden blasted general manager Daryl Morey as a “liar” and wants to be traded.

There is still no deal, so the 2018 NBA MVP has been practicing with the 76ers, though he didn’t play in any of their first three preseason games. Neither did MVP Joel Embiid, meaning new coach Nick Nurse would have at most one opportunity to see his top players on the floor before opening the season.

“I don’t know if you’re ever going to feel like you’re ready going into the opener,” said Nurse, who replaced the fired Doc Rivers. “I think you never really know.”

Philadelphia still has plenty of talent around Embiid, the league’s scoring champion. But without a focused Harden, who led the league in assists last season, or without moving him for a good package of players, the Sixers can’t quite match what the Celtics can put on the floor.

They acquired the 7-foot-3 Porzingis, who averaged a career-high 23.2 points in Washington last season, then traded for All-Star guard Holiday, who had been dealt by Milwaukee to Portland in the Bucks’ deal for Damian Lillard.

Adding those two to the duo of Tatum and Brown that took Boston to the 2022 NBA Finals, and to Game 7 of the East finals last season before falling to Miami, has the Celtics neck-and-neck with the Bucks for the best odds to top the East this season.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said those moves have left teams like his realizing their challenge, saying “the obvious would be, when you look at a Boston and a Milwaukee, well, they were already good before any of the trade stuff.”

Now the Celtics appear even better and it’s hard to tell what the 76ers are.

A look at each team in the Atlantic Division, in predicted order of finish:

BOSTON CELTICS

Their defense may suffer a bit after trading former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and center Robert Williams III. But Holiday joining fellow All-Defensive team selection Derrick White in the backcourt will keep it from slipping too much, and the increased firepower to a team that was fourth in the league with 117.9 points per game last season means it may not matter much, anyway. Especially with Tatum (30.1 ppg) and Brown (26.6) both coming off their best seasons and only figuring to get better.

NEW YORK KNICKS

With Thibodeau’s teams known mostly for defense, it was easy to overlook how good the Knicks were offensively. Julius Randle (25.1 ppg) and Jalen Brunson (24.0) both ranked among the league’s top 20 scorers, and the Knicks were fourth in the league in offensive rating, measuring points scored per 100 possessions. With a solid starting lineup and Immanuel Quickley providing points off the bench, the Knicks have enough to get back to the postseason, though perhaps not enough to get by the very best teams in the East.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Maybe the 76ers, who two years ago had to play half a season short-handed when Ben Simmons wouldn’t suit up for them and was ultimately traded for Harden, are equipped to handle their current distraction. And with Kelly Oubre Jr. and Patrick Beverley added to a roster that still features Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, they won’t lack talent. But whether it’s with Harden or with whatever they get for him, the Sixers look a notch below the East elite.

BROOKLYN NETS

Mikal Bridges was a star after coming to Brooklyn in the midseason trade for Kevin Durant, averaging 26.1 points in 27 games. Maybe Simmons can be again if the 2016 No. 1 pick’s body and mind are right after playing just half a season since coming from Philadelphia. And with the way both players guard, the Nets believe they can defend even the most explosive lineups in the East. But they probably don’t have quite enough on the other end of the floor to score with them.

TORONTO RAPTORS

Serbian Darko Rajakovic takes over a team that went 41-41 last season, its final one under Nurse. Gone also is guard Fred VanVleet, but the Raptors will be able to replace him if newcomer Dennis Schröder plays like he did while leading Germany to the gold medal in the Basketball World Cup and winning tournament MVP honors. Toronto is already strong on the wings with All-Star Pascal Siakam, NBA steals leader OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Pritchard shot 9 for 14, including 6 for 11 on 3-pointers, and had four assists in 23 minutes for the Celtics. Pritchard’s three-point play gave Boston a 102-101 lead with 4:28 left to play and the Celtics stayed in front from there.

Jaylen Brown scored 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting and accounted for all the scoring in a 9-0 third-quarter run as Boston took an 81-80 lead into the final period.

Kristaps Porzingis hit all four of his first-half shots — including a 3-pointer — and all four of his free throws, scoring 13 of his 17 points to help Boston take a 59-57 lead at halftime. Jayson Tatum had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but shot just 3 for 13 and went 0 for 4 on 3s.

Tyrese Maxey finished with 24 points and four assists to lead the 76ers. Jaden Springer had 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, Tobias Harris added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Patrick Beverley scored 12 on 5-for-7 shooting.

Maxey scored 13 points in the first quarter to help Philadelphia take a 29-20 lead.

BUCKS 105, BULLS 102

Marjon Beauchamp finished with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead host Milwaukee in the teams’ preseason opener.

Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out for the Bucks, but his older brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo totaled 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes.

Brook Lopez hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in 12 minutes for the Bucks. Malik Beasley also made three shots from beyond the arc, scoring 13 with four assists. Chris Livingston, the final pick of the second round in this year’s draft, did not play. Andre Jackson Jr., a second-rounder acquired in a trade with the Orlando Magic, totaled four points, four rebounds, three assists a steal and a block in 17 minutes.

Coby White had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists to pace the Bulls, playing a team-high 23 minutes. Patrick Williams scored 13 points, Julian Phillips — a second-round selection acquired in a trade with Boston — had two points and two blocks in 10 minutes. All 20 players who dressed for the game saw action for Chicago.

Chicago took an 82-78 lead into the fourth quarter, but Ty Ty Washington made a go-ahead jumper with 8:41 left to play — sparking an 8-0 run and Milwaukee led the rest of the way.

SUNS 130, PISTONS 126, OT

Keon Johnson and Yuta Watanabe opened overtime with back-to-back baskets and visiting Phoenix won after giving up a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Ausur Thompson, the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, hit a 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in regulation as the Pistons outscored the Suns 38-18 to force overtime tied at 122.

Kevin Durant scored 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter as Phoenix jumped out to a 46-29 lead. Durant’s first-quarter effort included two three-point plays, a 3-pointer and a technical free throw.

Grayson Allen made three 3-pointers and scored 18 points to lead the Suns, adding three assists and two steals. Chimezie Metu had 14 points, while Devin Booker scored 12 in 15 minutes of play. Bradley Beal and Saben Lee added 11 points apiece, while Watanabe scored 10 with five rebounds.

Marvin Bagley III led Detroit with 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting with seven rebounds. Thompson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Jaden Ivey made three 3-pointers and scored 15. Cade Cunningham added 12 points and six assists.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Celtics finalized a deal with Portland on Sunday to land Holiday, who was sent to the Trail Blazers last week by Milwaukee in the trade that sent seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard to the Bucks.

Boston gave up two key pieces — point guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward Robert Williams — and Portland also gets two future first-round picks, said a person with knowledge of the trade who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending league approval.

ESPN first reported the trade agreement.

Holiday moves into the starting point guard spot in Boston that had been held in recent seasons by Marcus Smart, who was sent to Memphis during the offseason in a three-team trade (also including Washington) that brought Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics.

Smart is a dogged defender. And Holiday is the same. He’s a five-time All-Defensive selection — a first-teamer on that team last season — who has appeared on defensive player of the year ballots in each of the last three years.

The 33-year-old Holiday was also an All-Star last year for the first time in a decade and is coming off a season in which he averaged 19.3 points and 7.4 assists, both better than his career averages of 16.4 points and 6.5 assists.

Flipping Holiday for Brogdon, Williams and more draft capital means the Trail Blazers have now turned Lillard into four players (with Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara also included as part of Wednesday’s deal), three first-round picks and two pick swaps. That’s a strong haul for Lillard, who was officially welcomed to Milwaukee by his new team on Saturday.

Porzingis announced on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, that he made the decision after an MRI in consultation with the Celtics and Latvian coaching and medical staffs about the foot issue.

“Such a decision is not easy to make, but I promise that I will be there and support the team as much as I can,” Porzingis wrote in Latvian.

He didn’t indicate how quickly he could return to basketball, but plantar fasciitis can be an ongoing issue. Porzingis posted that he already has had “several weeks of recovery.”

The World Cup begins begins Aug. 25 in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Boston acquired Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade in June. The Celtics, who sent defensive specialist Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in the deal, added the 7-foot-3 Porzingis after coming within one game of the NBA Finals. Porzingis averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds last season in Washington.

The Celtics’ wing has agreed to terms on a five-year supermax contract extension that will pay him up to $304 million, his agent said Tuesday.

It’s the richest contract in NBA history, surpassing the $264 million deal signed by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic last summer.

The deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed to The Associated Press by Brown’s agent, Jason Glushon.

It keeps Brown with the team that drafted him third overall in 2016 and watched him develop into a two-time All-Star.

He averaged career highs of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season. But those numbers went down in the playoffs, when the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. In Game 7, Brown had 19 points on 8-of-23 shooting, making just one of nine 3-point attempts.

Still, the totality of his time in Boston has made him a key piece of the franchise’s current core that management wasn’t willing to risk seeing depart when his current four-year deal expiries after next season.

By virtue of making the All-NBA second team — Brown’s first such honor in his career — he was eligible for the supermax extension.

From the moment this past season ended, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been adamant that he wanted to see Brown sign a long-term deal.

“He’s a big part of us. We believe in him and I’m thankful for him,” Stevens said last month. “I’m really thankful that when those guys have success they come back to work. And when they get beat, they own it and they come back to work. And so I know that’s what they’re about. And that’s hard to find.”

Those sentiments were echoed by All-Star Jayson Tatum, who has paired with Brown to lead the Celtics’ one-two punch in their runs to the NBA Finals in 2021-22 and the conference finals last season.

Following Boston’s East finals loss in May, Tatum said retaining Brown long-term was “extremely important.”

“He’s one of the best players in this league,” Tatum said. “He plays both ends of the ball and still is relatively young. And he’s accomplished a lot so far in his career. So, I think it’s extremely important.”

Brown’s new pact will likely lead to some financial maneuvering down the road with the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement bringing more limitations on how teams construct their rosters and additional luxury tax penalties.

Tatum is still playing under his rookie extension that kicked in last season and will be eligible for his potential supermax extension next summer.

The No. 38 selection in the draft, Walsh averaged about seven points, four rebounds and one steal while helping Arkansas reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in his lone season with the Razorbacks. The 6-foot-7 forward is expected to play for the Celtics’ summer league team in Las Vegas.

Brissett has appeared in 172 games over four seasons with Toronto and Indiana. He averages 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He earned All-G League Second Team honors in 2020-21 with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, averaging 18.6 points and just under 10 rebounds per game.

Also Thursday, the team added Duke assistant Amile Jefferson to coach Joe Mazzulla’s staff. Jefferson played for Duke from 2012-17 — as a teammate of current Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in ’17 — and won a national championship in 2015.

Jefferson played 30 NBA games for the Orlando Magic from 2018-20, scoring 42 points in 142 minutes.

Dallas is sending guard Reggie Bullock and a 2030 pick swap to the Spurs, while the Mavericks and Celtics will receive multiple second-round picks, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no trades can be finalized before Thursday.

Williams’ contract is for $54 million over four years.

The Mavericks made it clear they thought their roster needed work after missing the playoffs when the pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving faltered in the two months after the blockbuster deal that brought Irving from Brooklyn in February.

Irving and the Mavs have agreed on a $126 million, three-year contract that should become official when free agent deals can be signed, starting Thursday. Center Dwight Powell also is set to return.

The 6-foot-6 Williams will change the look of the Dallas frontcourt with the lanky, offensive-minded Christian Wood not expected to return. The 24-year-old averaged career highs of 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in his fourth season with the Celtics.

Dallas wants to rediscover the defensive mentality that helped fuel a run to the Western Conference finals in 2022. But it will have to be with a new set of key defensive pieces. The departure of Bullock comes after Dorian Finney-Smith went to the Nets in the Irving deal.

Bullock averaged 7.2 points for the Mavericks last season, a drop from 8.6 in his first season in Dallas. The 3-and-D specialist shot 40% from 3-point range in the 2022 playoffs, making 2.9 per game before dropping to 1.9 at a 38% clip in the 2022-23 regular season.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreements hadn’t been announced. The trade comes with Porzingis accepting his player option for next season.

The deal also includes the Grizzlies acquiring Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, from Boston in exchange for first-round draft picks in 2023 and 2024. ESPN reported the Wizards are also receiving guard Tyus Jones from Memphis, and forwards Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari and a second-round pick this year from Boston.

The Celtics add the 7-foot-3 Porzingis after they lost in seven games to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals. Porzingis is coming off a solid season in Washington in which he averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds. Most importantly, he stayed healthy enough to play in 66 games, his most since 2016-17 when he was with the New York Knicks.

Porzingis’ departure completes a swift breakup of Washington’s core after the Wizards agreed to trade Bradley Beal to Phoenix, and Kyle Kuzma declined his option. Washington has missed the playoffs the past two seasons and is now clearly in a rebuilding mode under new team president Michael Winger.

Smart has played in Boston all nine of his NBA seasons, was its longest-tenured player and one of the strongest presences in the locker room. He also ranks fourth on the franchise’s career lists for 3-pointers (911) and assists (2,700). His departure leaves the Celtics with Derrick White and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon as the top two candidates to replace Smart.

Smart brings much needed experience to a young Memphis team that needs help at point guard following the announcement of Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension for next season. Smart also brings postseason experience to the Grizzlies, who have won only one playoff series despite finishing second in the West the past two seasons.

The Celtics reached the NBA Finals in 2022, but were unable to make it back this season despite their talented tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Boston becomes Porzingis’ fourth NBA team. Drafted in 2015 by New York with the fourth overall pick, he played three seasons with the Knicks before being traded to Dallas before the deadline in 2019 — when he was recovering from knee surgery. The Wizards acquired him from Dallas 16 months ago.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the Celtics haven’t publicly discussed their staff search. The move was first reported by 247sports.

The 30-year-old Jefferson worked under Jon Scheyer, who was in his first season facing the daunting task of replacing retired Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. Jefferson had returned to Duke in July 2021 after a four-year professional career with stops in the NBA, then served as director of player development in Krzyzewski’s farewell season.

Jefferson’s five year career as a Blue Devils player included 124 wins and the 2015 NCAA title, the fifth and final of Coach K’s career. In his final college season, he played with current Celtics star Jayson Tatum during Tatum’s lone season at Duke (2017).

For the Celtics, it’s the latest move under president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to add new blood to the staff of coach Joe Mazzulla.

ESPN reported earlier this month that Milwaukee Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee and 76ers assistant Sam Cassell are both expected to join Mazzulla’s staff next season.

Mazzulla lost his former top assistant Damon Stoudamire when he left in March to become the head coach at Georgia Tech.

Mazzulla was thrust into the role of interim coach prior to the season following the suspension of Ime Udoka and was elevated to full-time coach shortly before the All-Star break.

He led Boston to the Eastern Conference finals, but the Celtics lost in seven games to the Miami Heat in a series Mazzulla was criticized for some of his strategic decisions.

The team said that Williams, 24, will need 6-8 weeks to recover following the procedure.

Williams averaged career highs in minutes (25.9), points (8.1) and rebounds (4.6) during the regular season. But each of those numbers fell during the playoffs as he slipped in and out of the rotation.

He is a restricted free agent this summer.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said last week that he thinks Williams got caught in a numbers’ situation regarding his reduced playing time this season.

“He is a good player who was on a really deep team,” Stevens said. “With the addition of (Malcolm) Brogdon last year it was going to require that guys that had gotten a little more opportunity weren’t going to get as much. That obviously hit a few of our players. … But everybody around the league knows Grant can add value to any team.”

It may have evaporated on the very first play.

Jayson Tatum rolled his left ankle on a layup attempt on Boston’s opening possession of the game, and he and the Celtics never were the same afterward, stumbling to a 103-84 loss on Monday night.

“I came down on my ankle. And it’s tough because it kind of impacted me the rest of the night,” said Tatum, who finished 5 of 13 from the field with 14 points. “Swelled up. It was frustrating that I was a shell of myself, couldn’t move.”

Boston was looking to extend a wild postseason ride that already included five wins when facing elimination — twice in the East semifinals after falling behind 3-2 to the 76ers, and three straight times against the Heat.

Instead, for the second straight year the Celtics’ season ended with a team receiving a trophy on their home floor.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 19 points but struggled to find a groove while going just 8 for 23 from the field and 1 for 9 from the 3-point line.

“Just a terrible game when my team needed me most,” Brown said. “JT hurt his ankle the first play of the game. You could see it swelling up. He couldn’t move out there. … I failed. It’s tough. I give credit to Miami. But just a terrible job.”

The Celtics cut what had been a 17-point third-quarter deficit to 10 entering the fourth. But Miami started the final period with a 7-0 spurt over the first 70 seconds from with Boston never recovered.

Boston’s 84 points in the night was a low for these playoffs.

Along with Tatum’s injury, Malcolm Brogdon also played through what he confirmed afterward was a partially torn tendon his right forearm. And Game 6 savior Derrick White kept his team in contention with 18 points, but left late after suffering a knee injury.

“This is how the game is. Sometimes the ball doesn’t roll your way,” Brogdon said.

Boston ended their postseason run 5-6 at home.

“I thought in the first quarter and a half or so we continued to fight defensively, even though our shots weren’t falling,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Then we just couldn’t score.”

It was a microcosm of a season that began with a coaching change the day before training camp after Ime Udoka was given a yearlong suspension for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization.

Mazzulla took over and led Boston to a 57-win regular season and its fifth conference finals appearance in seven seasons.

Now Boston enters an offseason that could change the franchise’s immediate future with a decision to be made about Brown, who is eligible to receive a five-year contract extension worth as much as $295 million.

But Brown said it’s not something he’d even began to ponder as he comes to grips with the end of a playoff run he thought would last much longer.

“I expected to win today and move on. That’s what my focus was on. That’s what my focus has been on. We failed. I failed. That’s all I can think about at this moment. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

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The Heat recovered after blowing a 3-0 lead in the series and advanced to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons. They will face the Western Conference champion Nuggets, with Game 1 in Denver on Thursday night.

Bam Adebayo scored 12 points with 10 rebounds for Miami, which is the first No. 8 seed to play for a championship since the 1999 New York Knicks. Top-seeded Denver has been waiting since sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers on May 22.

Butler was named the Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player, an award named after Celtics Hall of Famer Larry Bird.

Game 6 hero Derrick White scored 18 for Boston, which was hoping to become the first NBA team ever to advance after falling behind 0-3 in a best-of-seven series. Jaylen Brown scored 19 with eight rebounds but went 1 for 9 from 3-point range.

Jayson Tatum, who scored a Game 7 record 51 points against Philadelphia in the conference semis, had 14 points with 11 rebounds after turning his ankle on the first play of the game and limping through 42 minutes.

The Celtics led by five points early before conceding a 14-4 run to end the first quarter and then giving up 16 of the first 22 points in the second. Boston cut the deficit to seven points late in the third, but Miami took a 76-66 lead at the break and scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to pull away.

The Heat took the first three games – two of them in Boston – and needed just one more win to reach to the NBA Finals. None of the 150 teams that have opened a 3-0 lead in an NBA playoff series has ever failed to advance.

But the Celtics hyped themselves up by watching a documentary on the Boston Red Sox comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the New York Yankees on their way to the 2004 World Series. When the Celtics took the floor for Game 4 in Miami, ex-Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter were sitting courtside.

Boston won Games 4 and 5 by double digits and had a cushy lead in Game 6 before Miami rallied back to take a one-point lead with 3 seconds left. The Heat appeared to clinch it when Marcus Smart’s desperation 3-pointer rimmed out, but White scored on a putback in the final 10th of a second to force a decisive seventh game.

Back at home, the Celtics greeted their fans with a pregame video intercutting highlights from the Red Sox comeback with their own. 2004 Red Sox catalyst Kevin Millar recorded a message to hype up the crowd.

But the heavily favored Celtics couldn’t repeat the feat.

Despite this, there is still one impossible task sport has yet to crack – a team overcoming an 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series in the NBA Playoffs.

In Game 7, the Boston Celtics have a chance to complete basketball’s mission impossible and become the first team to overcome the insurmountable deficit in 151 tries against the Miami Heat.

How to watch

The crucial Game 7 match-up will air on TNT with the game also available to streamed on the TNT app.

Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 29.

Mission impossible

The record for teams looking to climb out of an 0-3 series hole currently stands at 0-150.

Many teams have tried, a few teams have gotten close, but ultimately all have failed in trying to achieve the comeback of all comebacks.

This Boston squad marks the fourth team to ever force a Game 7 following a 0-3 start to a series: the New York Knicks forced a Game 7 in the 1951 NBA Finals against the Rochester Royals, the Denver Nuggets pushed it to the brink in the 1994 Western Conference semis against the Utah Jazz and the Portland Trail Blazers almost made history in the 2003 Western Conference first round against the Dallas Mavericks.

Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart were sure not to let the numbers dissuade the Celtics from their goal of winning a ring.

“I feel very good about tonight. Don’t let us get one,” Smart warned the Heat before Game 4.

Teammate Jaylen Brown issued a similar line, adding, “Don’t let us get one. Don’t let us get tonight.”

These statements will go down in basketball history if the Celtics can win Game 7, but as is the cruel nature of sport, all will be forgotten if the Heat manage to seal the series.

“We have got some guys that don’t quit. We got some guys that have had a long road to get to this point,” said Heat star Jimmy Butler after Game 6. “So why give up now, you know? This is the stage that we are on. The stage is set. This is when the lights are the brightest, and my guys are going to show up.”

How we got here

Miami had to come through the Play-In tournament as the No. 8 seed but has not let its underdog status have any bearing on its impressive playoff run so far.

Erik Spoelstra’s team took down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, before winning a war of attrition against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semis.

Despite Boston’s impressive regular season record, the No. 2 seed has struggled throughout the postseason. It took the Celtics six games to get past the Atlanta Hawks and another seven to get through the Philadelphia 76ers.

This brought the Heat and the Celtics together in the Eastern Conference Finals. The series has been an incredible display of drama and tension with the momentum ebbing and flowing throughout.

The Heat raced to a 3-0 lead in the series thanks to incredible performances by Butler and the Miami supporting cast.

Butler has been one of the stars of the NBA postseason and continued this form during the early games of the series against the Celtics.

Missing Tyler Herro through injury meant that head coach Erik Spoelstra had to seek other alternatives to support his star man. Up stepped Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin – who have come up big in clutch time and throughout the series.

However, the Celtics won Game 4 and Game 5 in comfortable fashion with Jayson Tatum showing his brilliance in the win-or-go-home games. Back-to-back blowouts meant that Boston took the series back to Miami for Game 6 – the most crucial game of the series so far.

Buoyed by their home crowd support, it looked like the Heat had finally got their momentum back and had enough in the tank to become Eastern Conference champions.

The Heat held a one-point advantage with just three seconds left on the clock, but with the ball in Boston’s hands, it was far from over. As Marcus Smart attempted to splash home a game-winning three, the ball bounced off the rim and Derrick White scored a buzzer-beating putback to edge the game for the Celtics.

“It felt good. Everybody was asking me, ‘Did you get it off?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I think so,’ but it was so close, you never know,” White told reporters afterwards. “We’re just happy we won. However, we got to get it done, we got it done, and now it’s on to Game 7.”

All eyes are now on Game 7 with the Celtics looking to write their name in sporting history, and the Heat hoping they aren’t on the receiving end of one of the greatest comebacks in sport history.

“We just have to understand why we’re still alive. The mindset doesn’t shift. Just can’t relax,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla after Game 6.

Heat coach Spoelstra added: “These are emotional games and things can swing in that Game 7. The pressure can go back and forth in Game 7s quite a bit. We’re not going anywhere.”

Let the battle commence.

Game 7, indeed.

Brown and Boston are on the brink of history after Derrick White’s buzzer-beating putback lifted the Celtics to a 104-103 victory over the Heat in Game 6. One of the league’s most storied franchises is trying to become the first team in NBA playoffs history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

Next up is one more game in the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night in Boston. And it looks as if the back-and-forth series could be on its way to an epic conclusion.

The Celtics are the fourth NBA team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series and force a deciding game. The previous three teams — the 1951 New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the 1994 Denver Nuggets in the second round and the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers in the first round — lost Game 7, all on the road.

“We’ve got another chance, another opportunity,” said Jayson Tatum, who had 31 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in Game 6 to join Larry Bird as the only other Celtic with double-digit playoff games with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. “It’s far from over. Still an uphill battle. But it always feels good to give yourself another chance, another opportunity.”

Boston is looking to extend a wild postseason ride that already includes five wins when facing elimination — twice in the East semifinals after falling behind 3-2 to the 76ers, and now three straight times against the Heat.

The Celtics are 27-9 in Game 7s and have won their last four — including a 112-88 win against Philadelphia in the previous round that featured Tatum breaking out for 51 points, the most in a Game 7 in NBA history. Boston also beat the Heat in Game 7 in Miami in last year’s East finals when Jimmy Butler missed what would have been a go-ahead 3-pointer with about 17 seconds left.

The Heat are 6-5 all-time in Game 7s, losing their last two. Miami is 0-2 when facing such a game on the road.

The winner of Sunday’s matchup will advance to face the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

Despite being denied a finals berth in three straight games, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said his message to the team after Saturday’s loss was just to focus on the next game. Let the past be the past.

“Let’s just rally around each other,” Spoelstra said. “These are emotional games and things can swing in that Game 7. The pressure can go back and forth in Game 7s quite a bit. We’re not going anywhere.”

But what may be most concerning for the Heat heading into Monday is the Celtics — typically reliant on their ability to make 3-point shots — were able to pull out Saturday’s win despite making a playoff-low 7 of 35 attempts from deep.

In addition, until Butler’s incredible flurry of 10 points in just over two minutes to put the Heat in front, he was mostly a non-factor on a night in which he went just 5 of 21 from the field. Over the past three games Butler has shot a combined 19 of 55.

He said it hasn’t shaken his resolve to do what he can to prevent what would be a disappointing finish for Miami.

“You’re going to get the same test until you pass it, I swear,” Butler said. “We were in this same position last year. We can do it. I know that we will do it. We’ve got to go on the road and win in a very, very, very tough environment.”

That environment just happens to be the city that is home to the first — and still only — team in Major League Baseball history to pull off a 3-0 series comeback.

That squad, the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox, rallied from that hole in the American League Championship Series against the rival New York Yankees.

David Ortiz, the 2004 ALCS MVP, said it makes sense that the Celtics are in position to pull off what has previously been unthinkable.

“Yeah, and there’d be no better time than this one for that happen,” Ortiz said in an interview with The Associated Press. “If you do it in basketball, it’s got to be the same city.”

The Celtics are just 5-5 at home during these playoffs, but there is no place there would rather be with their season on the line.

“It’s going to be huge. The best two words in sports is ‘Game 7,’” Brown said. “And our home crowd, I know they’re going to bring the energy. So, I’m excited.”

There was no word on the status of Boston guard Malcolm Brogdon for Game 7. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year missed Saturday night’s win with a right forearm strain.

Boston’s reserves were outscored 22-11 in Brogdon’s absence. Robert Williams III went to the locker room late in the second quarter with a left wrist injury, but he returned in the second half and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes on the night.

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Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, Jaylen Brown scored 26 and Marcus Smart added 21 for the Celtics, who became only the fourth NBA team to erase a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series and force a deciding game. The others in that club — the 1951 New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the 1994 Denver Nuggets in the second round and the 2003 Portland Trail Blazers in the first round — all lost Game 7, all on the road.

Boston, however, is going home for its shot at history. Game 7 is Monday night on the Celtics’ floor, a matchup that’ll decide who meets the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets in a title series that will start Thursday.

Jimmy Butler made three free throws with 3.0 seconds left for a one-point Heat lead. Smart missed a 3-pointer, but White grabbed the rebound and scored as time expired.

Butler scored 24 points and Caleb Martin had 21 for the Heat, who are trying to pull off their own improbable trek to the title series by being only the second No. 8 seed to make the NBA Finals. They’ve now lost as many games this week — three — as they had in their first 14 playoff games this spring combined on the way to ousting No. 1 Milwaukee, then No. 5 New York and taking what was supposed to be an insurmountable 3-0 lead over the second-seeded Celtics.

The Celtics have now won five of their last six East finals games in Miami — a stretch that includes a Game 7 over the Heat last season to reach the NBA Finals.

That one, obviously, ended the Heat season. At least this time, Miami still has a chance.

The Heat are the 151st team to grab a 3-0 series lead in a best-of-seven. All 150 of the previous clubs finished the job. But the Celtics have made very clear that they have other ideas.

TIP-INS

Celtics: The Celtics are 5-0 when facing elimination this season, 3-0 on the road. They beat Philadelphia twice on their way to erasing a 3-2 lead in the East finals, and now have tied this series. … Malcolm Brogdon (right forearm strain) was downgraded to out about an hour before game time.

Heat: Diddy was at the game, as was former Heat guard Goran Dragic and Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk. … Unless Miami wins Game 7 at Boston, it may have been the final home game of Heat forward Udonis Haslem’s 20-year career. The Heat are 613-297 in the 910 games in their home arena with Haslem on the roster; that doesn’t include the restart bubble’s home games in 2020.

GAME 7 HISTORY

The Celtics are 27-9 in Game 7s, winners of their last four — including one in Miami last season and one earlier this season, against Philadelphia in the East semifinals. They’re 1-1 against the Heat all-time in such games (losing the 2012 East finals deciding game in Miami), and 22-5 at home in Game 7.

The Heat are 6-5 all-time in Game 7s, lost their last two (home vs. Boston in 2022, at Toronto in 2016), and are 0-2 when facing such a game on the road. Besides the Raptors game seven years ago, they lost a Game 7 at Atlanta in 2009.

UNSUCCESSFULLY SUCCESSFUL

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra used a challenge early in the third quarter, after Martin was called for a foul on a play where Brown scored. Miami claimed Brown hooked Martin; referees, after review, said there was no foul on Martin — but counted the basket anyway and the Heat lost their review.

Even the impossible.

The Celtics are halfway to history, and that alone has gotten them entry into a very small club. Of the first 150 teams that trailed a best-of-seven series 3-0 in NBA history, just 14 — 9.3% — found a way to extend the matchup to Game 6. None of them have won the series, and most are usually eliminated by now.

Not the Celtics. They have cut the deficit in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat to 3-2, simultaneously trailing the series yet seeming to have all the momentum going into Game 6 in Miami on Saturday night.

“Obviously, we didn’t imagine being in this position, being down 3-0, but when adversity hits, you get to see like what a team is really made of,” Celtics forward Jaylen Brown said. “I mean, it couldn’t get no worse than being down 3-0, but we didn’t look around, we didn’t go in separate directions. We stayed together. We doubled down on what we’re good at on defense, and now I think it’s a series.”

Only three teams have gone from down 3-0 to tied 3-3; the Celtics could be the fourth with a win on Saturday. No NBA team has ever fully escaped the 3-0 hole, but a win on Saturday would give Boston a chance to change that in Game 7 — which would be Monday on its home floor.

“One of our assistants put it in great perspective: The seasons are like nine months long, and we just had a bad week,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Sometimes you have a bad week at work. We obviously didn’t pick the best time to have a bad week, but we did, and we’re sticking together and fighting like hell to keep it alive.”

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets are waiting for an opponent. If Boston wins the series, the Nuggets will visit the Celtics for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. If Miami wins the East, the Heat are headed to Denver for Game 1. Either way, the title series starts June 1, somewhere.

“We have to shore up who we are and address the areas that we have not been maybe good enough or areas that we can clean up,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Friday, after the team’s first real practice since sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers for the Western Conference title. “But it’s really hard to keep your rhythm when you’re not playing NBA games.”

The Heat had a nine-point lead in the third quarter of Game 4, in position to perhaps win in a sweep. The lead was gone 2-1/2 minutes later and the Celtics haven’t trailed since. An 18-0 run in Game 4 put Boston on top of that game for good, a 12-0 run by the Celtics later in that game ended all doubt, and then they started Game 5 with a 20-5 burst.

Add that all up, and from the start of the third-quarter run in Game 4 to the end of the start-of-game spurt in Game 5, the Celtics outscored the Heat 84-43 in a span of 27 minutes.

“The last two games are not who we are. It just happened to be that way,” Heat forward Jimmy Butler said. “We stopped playing defense halfway because we didn’t make shots that we want to make. But that’s easily correctable. You just have to come out and play harder from the jump. Like I always say, it’s going to be all smiles and we are going to keep it very, very, very consistent, knowing that we are going to win next game.”

At least the confidence isn’t ailing. Everything else is.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra flatly shot down the notion that Miami has an excuse for the way it played in Game 5 — “there’s no excuses. Not at all,” he insisted — even though the training room is as crowded as a scrum for a loose ball under a basket right now. The Heat have been shorthanded in the backcourt for the entirety of the playoffs after injuries to shooting guards Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo, plus they didn’t have starting guard Gabe Vincent for Game 5 and watched Kyle Lowry play through some sort of hand issue.

Miami’s starters were outscored 95-44 in Game 5, and since the start of Boston’s comeback-sparking burst in Game 4 the Heat have been outscored 75-33 from 3-point range, allowed the Celtics to shoot 54% from the field, 44% from 3-point range while committing 26 turnovers to Boston’s 12.

Pick a number. They’re all bad for the Heat, except the one that matters most — 3-2, the series score that means Miami is still only one win from capping its own improbable run of being a No. 8 seed that found its way into the NBA Finals.

“It’s a competitive series,” Spoelstra said. “You always expect things to be challenging in the conference finals. One game doesn’t lead to the next game. … We beat them by whatever in Game 3. It just doesn’t matter. It’s about collectively preparing and putting together a great game. We’ll play much better on Saturday. That’s all we just have to focus on right now.”

Marcus Smart had 23 points and five steals. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finished with 21 points apiece as the Celtics claimed their second straight win and trimmed Miami’s series lead to 3-2.

It keeps alive Boston’s hopes of becoming the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Teams previously in that position are 0-150 all-time.

Game 6 is Saturday in Miami.

A day after the Florida Panthers punched the franchise’s first ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1996, for the second straight game the Heat were denied a spot in the NBA Finals.

Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 18 points. Bam Adebayo added 16 points and eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists but sat out the final 9:47 of the game. Caleb Martin finished with 14 points.

It was Butler’s lowest-scoring game of the playoffs. He had 16 points in Game 3, a blowout win by Miami.

Miami never led and had 16 turnovers.

Boston entered the day just 4-5 at TD Garden this postseason. But with a raucous home crowd behind them, the Celtics thrived on their energy.

They dove for loose balls, outfought Miami for rebounds and found each other for layups and dunks in transition as they built as much as 20 points in the first half.

The Heat cut into it, but Boston kept knocking down 3s and grew its edge as high as 96-72 in the fourth quarter.

Boston’s fans reignited a “Beat the Heat!” chant that hadn’t been prevalent since Game 1.

The Heat started Kyle Lowry at point guard after Gabe Vincent was ruled out with a sprained left ankle earlier in the day. It was Lowry’s first start since Feb. 2.

Vincent, the Heat’s third-leading scorer this postseason, got hurt late in Miami’s Game 4 loss when he landed awkwardly while trying to save a loose ball near the Heat bench.

His presence was missed as Miami struggled early on the offensive end, swarmed by a Celtics’ defense that forced the Heat into 10 first-half turnovers that led to 17 Boston points. Lowry played 31 minutes, scored five points and finished with four turnovers.

TIP-INS

Heat: Were outscored 13-0 in second-half points in the opening 24 minutes.

Celtics: Al Horford added six points and 11 rebounds. … The Celtics took a 61-44 edge into halftime. … Boston’s first turnover of the game didn’t come until the 8:16 mark of the second quarter.

FAST START

The Celtics got the fast start they had hoped for in front of their home crowd.

Smart stripped Adebayo on Miami’s opening possession, igniting a fast break and layup on the other end by Tatum.

Then, with the game tied at 4, Tatum got free in the lane for a monstrous two-handed dunk. He hung on the rim afterward and continued his celebration when he landed, leading to a technical foul.

It didn’t stop the Celtics’ momentum, as their first-quarter lead grew as high as 23-7. Boston ended the period with a 35-20 lead, punctuated by a 3-pointer by White at the buzzer.

Tatum had 12 points in the opening 12 minutes, with the Celtics outscoring the Heat 21-6 from beyond the arc. Boston hit 7 of its 12 attempts.

VIP WATCH

Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce, NCAA president Charlie Baker and New England Patriots Matt Slater and Devin McCourty were among several celebrities in the Garden.

Whether Boston’s 116-99 victory on Tuesday night was the start of a miraculous revival or simply a momentary reprieve from what NBA history suggests is still inevitable remains to be determined.

At the very least, the Celtics’ win made their chances of becoming the first NBA team in 151 tries to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series move from insurmountable to iffy heading into Game 5 at TD Garden on Thursday.

That’s good for a team that had spent most of this series looking nothing like the one that earned the conference’s second seed.

“We’ve just got to go win another one. That’s all that matters,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. “We take it one game at a time. We understand the odds are stacked against us, but we’re a team that believes in us no matter what, and we’ve just got to keep going, and all that matters is the next game.”

So much of what made the Celtics one of the league’s top scoring and defensive teams during the regular season was eviscerated in three straight losses to Miami to open the series.

The Heat befuddled Boston in those games. It took away top scoring threats Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, while outshooting a Celtics team that usually has demolished opponents at the 3-point line.

Boston showed acumen on both ends in Game 4, rallying during a game-changing 18-0 run in the third quarter. Led by Tatum’s 33 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, the Celtics outscored the Heat by 30 points from beyond the arc and turned Miami’s 16 turnovers into 27 points.

It also gave the Celtics a blueprint going forward.

“We’ve still got a long uphill battle to go,” Tatum said.

While the win gave the Celtics a little life, the Heat can blame themselves for not finishing. The game was close for three quarters and Miami still just needs to win one of the final three games to make it back to the NBA Finals for the first time since its run in 2020 in the Florida bubble. Denver is waiting to play the winner after sweeping the Lakers.

Boston won three times on the Heat’s home floor last year in the East finals. With a win on Thursday, Miami would accomplish the same feat on Boston’s floor this year.

The Celtics are 4-5 at home this postseason.

Heat star Jimmy Butler said he isn’t worried about Boston’s first win giving it momentum heading home.

“No. If anything, it will build momentum for us knowing that we have to play with a lot more energy,” Butler said. “We’ve got to play like our backs are against the wall. But I think all year long, we’ve been better when we’ve had to do things the hard way.”

INJURY WATCH

The Heat are preparing for Game 5 with two key players on the mend.

Gabe Vincent, who has been a sparkplug through the series and had 17 points in Game 4, left the game in the fourth quarter after turning his left ankle.

Kyle Lowry also took an awkward fall, leaving the condition of Miami’s point guards up in the air.

“Whenever you ask these guys, they are like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ So we’ll see,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Game 4.

Grant Williams scored 14, Al Horford added 12 and Marcus Smart scored 11 for the Celtics, who still trail the series 3-1 — but sent it back to Boston for a Game 5 on Thursday.

Jimmy Butler scored 29 for Miami, which led by nine in the second half before getting outscored 48-22 in a 14-minute stretch that turned the game — and perhaps the series — completely around. Boston would also have Game 7 on its floor as well if it can keep extending this series.

Gabe Vincent scored 17 for Miami, Caleb Martin had 16 and Bam Adebayo added 10. The Heat shot 8 for 32 on 3-pointers, while Boston was 19 for 45 — a massive 33-point difference in scoring from beyond the arc.

No team in NBA history has ever successfully rallied from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series; 150 have tried, 150 have failed.

But the Celtics gave themselves hope.

“We were just trying to save our season,” Tatum said.

The Heat led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter, kept the lead for the majority of the first half and were up by nine again when Max Strus connected on a 3-pointer early in the third quarter.

Boston’s season was officially on the brink.

And the Celtics responded — most emphatically.

An 18-0 run took Boston from down nine to up nine, a huge turnaround that took only three minutes. The Celtics were 6 of 7 from the floor during the run, 4 of 4 from 3-point range, Tatum had nine of the 18 points and just like that the defending East champions — who won three playoff games on Miami’s home floor in last year’s playoffs — were rolling again.

Miami got within four late in the third, only to see another lightning-fast spurt by the Celtics — this time, seven unanswered points in 40 seconds. Boston’s edge was 88-79 going into the fourth, after winning the third quarter 38-23, with 21 of those points coming on 3-pointers.

The Celtics kept the lead the rest of the way.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Tatum’s second 3-pointer of the night was the 220th of his postseason career, passing Paul Pierce for the most in Celtics playoff history. … Boston’s last four-game losing streak was in May 2021, late in the 2020-21 regular season. … Tatum’s jumper with 9:22 left put Boston up seven, stopped a Heat spurt — and was his first fourth-quarter field goal of the series.

Heat: Vincent left early in the fourth quarter after turning his left ankle. … Miami was bidding for its first five-game winning streak of the season — not the postseason, the whole season. Its longest win streak of the regular season was four games, back in December.

HERRO UPDATE

Heat guard Tyler Herro, who broke his right hand in Game 1 of Round 1 at Milwaukee, has his brace off and is resuming workouts. “He is starting the process,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There’s no timetable. But he does have the brace off and he’s able to do ballhandling and some shooting.”

CELEB WATCH

Among the celebrities in the crowd: PGA champion Brooks Koepka (who also was at the Florida Panthers’ win in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference finals series against Carolina on Tuesday night), NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein, former New York Yankees teammates Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, and actor Jeremy Piven.

This may sound familiar to Boston fans.

Yes, what the Red Sox did to the New York Yankees in 2004 was discussed around the Boston Celtics on Monday. A day after a debacle in Miami to fall into a 3-0 deficit in these Eastern Conference finals — “embarrassing,” Boston forward Jaylen Brown said — the Celtics will try to extend the series and at least delay a Heat celebration in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

“We still believe we’re the better team,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said Monday. “We have not played like it in any of the three games. But, you know, there is always a first.”

No NBA team has rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win a series; it’s happened only once in Major League Baseball, when the Red Sox shook off a 19-8 drubbing in Game 3 to win four straight and top the Yankees in that 2004 AL championship series.

Of course, there had never been a No. 8 seed that won an NBA playoff game by 26 points, either — until Miami rolled its way to a 128-102 cakewalk in Game 3. It led to All-Star Game MVP Jayson Tatum saying Boston needs to show some pride, veteran big man Al Horford calling upon the Celtics to stay together and first-year coach Joe Mazzulla taking the blame as speculation about his future only gets louder and louder.

“We didn’t play well at all,” Tatum said. “Obviously, by the score, it showed.”

Meanwhile, a Heat win on Tuesday would send Miami to the NBA Finals for the seventh time since 2006 — and give the team more than a week to rest before the series opens on June 1. The Denver Nuggets won the Western Conference title on Monday night, sweeping LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

If Miami wins the East, Denver will have home-court advantage in the finals. If Boston rallies, the Celtics would have the home-court edge.

Before all that, there’s a Game 4 in Miami, and that has Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s full attention.

“We can expect just a great, competitive game,” Spoelstra said. “Boston has great pride. They’ll bring it. And you want to embrace it. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself and think about anything else other than embracing the competition. This is what you want. You want to be in the Eastern Conference finals in a really competitive game with a chance to finish and close out.”

Thing is, that was also the thinking going into Game 3. After dropping the first two games at home, conventional wisdom would suggest that Boston would have arrived Sunday night loaded up for their best effort.

It wasn’t even close.

Boston trailed by as many as 33 in Game 3 — the second-biggest deficit the Celtics faced this season. They trailed Oklahoma City by 37 on Jan. 3, a game where the Thunder scored 88 points in the middle two quarters on the way to a 150-117 romp. The Celtics responded from that defeat by winning their next nine games.

“Faith is the most important thing in the world,” Mazzulla said.

The Heat would say the same. They’re trying to join the 1999 New York Knicks as the only No. 8 seeds to reach the NBA Finals, and they’re doing so after nearly missing the playoffs altogether.

They know the chance they have Tuesday. They watched Boston celebrate in front of Heat fans last year in Game 7 of the East finals. They have an opportunity to make the Celtics watch them celebrate winning the East this time around.

“We have a great opportunity ahead of us,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said.

3-0, 0-3

The Heat are up 3-0 in a series for the 10th time, including one sweep of a best-of-five in 2000. In the eight previous best-of-seven instances where Miami has led 3-0, the Heat have gone 5-3 in Game 4 and never been extended past Game 5.

Boston is down 0-3 in a series for the eighth time, including one best-of-five sweep defeat. The Celtics forced one of those best-of-seven deficits to six games, one to five games and got swept on the other four occasions.

LOVE UPDATE

Heat forward Kevin Love has a strained muscle in his lower left leg and is probable for Game 4. He got hurt in the first quarter of Game 3. “Felt like a muscle cramp,” Love said, adding that if Miami’s lead hadn’t been so sizable that he would have lobbied to return to Sunday’s game.

WELL RESTED

Jimmy Butler was needed for only 31 minutes in Game 3, after he averaged almost 42 minutes in his last nine playoff appearances for Miami.

“Big Papi” knows no NBA team has recovered from an 0-3 deficit like the Celtics face in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat. It’s happened 149 times in league history and the team in front has won the series.

Ortiz and the Red Sox faced seemingly insurmountable odds in 2004 when they trailed the rival New York Yankees 0-3 in the American League championship series. Not only did they come back, Boston won the World Series. It is the only team to do it in MLB history.

Why not the Celtics?

“Yeah, and there’d be no better time than this one for that happen,” Ortiz said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday morning at his charity golf tournament. “If you do it in basketball, it’s got to be the same city. You know what I’m saying.”

The 47-year-old Ortiz, who was enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame last summer, knows how the Celtics must look at it.

“Being 3-0, you’ve got two choices: You either quit or you go back out, and in professional sports, once you get to that point, there’s no way to quit,” said Ortiz, the 2004 ALCS MVP. “Once you get there — even if you’re 3-0 — you’re not thinking about quitting, you’re thinking about ‘OK, I hit bottom. I’ve got to go step-by-step now. I cannot try to win three games at once.’”

Like the 2004 Red Sox, who were blown out 19-8 in Game 3, the Celtics are coming off a blowout loss in Miami on Sunday night.

Ortiz recalled what the clubhouse was like after that game.

“Pretty quiet,” he said in the interview, sitting at an outside table near the course. “We pretty much were just thinking about: ‘Man, they scored a lot of runs the third game. We had played those guys more than 20 times and we know what to do to beat them.’ We just weren’t doing it. Jump back on the wagon.’’

Ortiz’s former ’04 teammate Tim Wakefield, also at the tournament, feels like the Celtics need someone to lighten the mood.

“They’ve got to have somebody like we had with Kevin Millar, to step up and say: ‘Don’t let us win tonight,’’’ he said. “That actually changed our whole demeanor. When we walked into the clubhouse for Game 4, we thought we were done.”

Ortiz said belief is vital.

“I think that there’s no room for negativity once you get there,” he said. “Every single thought has to be in a positive way, every single one, so you can bounce out of it.

“So, we go from the never to never and get to it,” he said, breaking into a laugh.

Ortiz’s tournament — called the Boston Heart Classic — raises money for children in need of life-saving medical treatment in both his native country, the Dominican Republic, and in New England.

Caleb Martin scored 18, Jimmy Butler finished with 16, Bam Adebayo had 13 and Max Strus added 10 for Miami, which leads the series 3-0. Every team in NBA history that has won the first three games of a best-of-seven has ultimately prevailed; the Heat are 8-0 in that situation.

Jayson Tatum scored 14 and Jaylen Brown added 12 for the Celtics, who won three times on Miami’s floor on the way to winning last season’s Eastern Conference finals — but simply never had a chance in this one and basically emptied the bench for the fourth quarter.

Grant Williams and Payton Pritchard each had 12 for Boston. Game 4 is Tuesday in Miami.

The NBA Finals start June 1, and the way things are going, that might mean the league is about to go a few days without games. The Western Conference finals could end Monday; Denver leads that series against the Los Angeles Lakers 3-0. And now, the East finals could end Tuesday.

There’s never been a season where both conference finals ended in sweeps; it happened in 1957 in the division finals immediately preceding the title series, when Boston beat Syracuse 3-0 and St. Louis beat Minneapolis 3-0.

Of all the 3-0 series leads in NBA history, this one might be the most unexpected — a No. 8 seed in the Heat, a team that struggled just to get into the playoffs, a team that was less than 3 minutes away from being eliminated in the play-in tournament, getting past top-seeded Milwaukee in five games, then fifth-seeded New York in six, and now on the brink of denying the No. 2-seeded Celtics a second consecutive East crown.

And the Heat let Boston know how much they were enjoying this one.

Mindful that Boston’s Al Horford directed a timeout signal toward the Miami bench during Game 1 when the Celtics were on a second-quarter spurt to build a comfortable lead, Butler did the same to Horford as the Heat were running away in the third quarter of Game 3.

Besides, the Heat rallied to win Game 1 anyway. There was no rally required in Game 3 by the Heat. There was barely one attempted by the Celtics, for that matter.

Boston got within 61-49 when Marcus Smart had a three-point play on the opening possession of the second half. The rest was all Miami, which immediately answered with a 28-7 run to open a 33-point lead at 89-56, which had the building rolling. The lead was so big, and there was so much time left, that the sellout crowd of 20,088 actually was subdued a bit by the time it was over.

They might have been yelled-out. Or maybe they were saving it for hockey on Monday night, when the Florida Panthers — another No. 8 seed on a magical playoff run in South Florida — will try to take a 3-0 lead in their East finals series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Robert Williams made his first shot, meaning he made 12 straight to start the series. He missed his second attempt. … The Heat encourage fans to wear white to playoff games, and Tatum also arrived in an all-white suit. … Smart appeared to throw a punch in the third quarter, but missed and after review referees determined he did not deserve a flagrant foul or a technical (which would have been his second of the night).

Heat: Robinson made five 3-pointers and now has 124 in his Heat postseason career, passing LeBron James (123) for the most in Miami history. … Butler’s steal with 7:17 left in the first quarter was the 2,000th in Heat postseason history. … Shaquille O’Neal, at the game as part of the TNT broadcast crew, greeted former teammate (and now Heat executive) Alonzo Mourning and got a long ovation when introduced during a second-quarter time out. … Vincent’s previous career best was 28, set in a Jan. 12 win over Milwaukee.

CONFUSED DOLPHINS?

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, a regular at Heat games this season, tried to get the pregame crowd going by waving one of the giveaway towels. Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins was at the game — wearing green shoes on a night Miami was playing the Celtics, though it should be noted he was born in Massachusetts.

LOVE HURT

Miami’s Kevin Love checked out 4:47 into the game after what the Heat said was an undisclosed ankle injury. He went to the Heat locker room for evaluation, returned to the bench area later in the first half, and started the second half.

QUOTABLE

“The lack of mental toughness. It’s embarrassing … that was an embarrassment for the Celtics.” — TNT’s Charles Barkley at halftime, with Boston trailing 61-46 and after being down by as many as 22 points.

Throughout the season, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has trumpeted his team’s ability to respond with angry resilience following poor outings. They showed examples of it each of the previous two playoff rounds, usually buoyed big performances by their two All-Stars in Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Boston couldn’t do it in Friday’s 111-105 Game 2 loss to the Heat that saw Miami confound Tatum with its zone down the stretch. He finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds, but went 0 for 3 in the fourth quarter with two turnovers. He scored his only points in the final 12 minutes on five late free throws. It came after he failed to take a shot in the fourth quarter of Boston’s Game 1 loss.

Brown wasn’t much better, making only 1 of his 5 attempts in from the field in fourth with a turnover. He finished with 16 points on 7-of-23 shooting from the field.

“I think they outplayed us,” Brown said. “They out-toughed us tonight and they found a way to make plays down the stretch and we didn’t.”

While Mazzulla has taken criticism in this series for some of his adjustments and decision-making, Tatum said the lack of production is on the players.

“We got his back, he got ours,” Tatum said. “Joe ain’t missed no shots tonight. He ain’t had no turnovers. I missed shots, I had turnovers. So, any time we lose I’m going to look at what I could have done better in order for us to change the outcome.”

As bad a night as Boston’s biggest stars had, the game changed after an exchange Williams had in the final quarter with Butler.

After hitting a 3-pointer to give his team a 96-87 lead, Williams shouted in the direction of Butler. He was then whistled for a foul on Miami’s next trip down the floor after committing a foul as Butler dropped in a short jumper with 6:22 to play in the game.

Words were exchanged and the pair went forehead to forward, spraying words back and forth before quickly being separated by their teammates and receiving double-technical fouls.

Butler casually swished his ensuring free throw to complete the three-point play and trotted back down the court.

Following a miss by Tatum and rebound by the Heat, the ball found its way back to Butler, who was good on a running floater. It was part of a 15-4 run that included nine points by Butler to give the Heat a 102-100 lead they never relinquished.

“I’m a competitor and I’m gonna battle,” Williams told reporters. “He got the best of me tonight and at the end of the day, it’s out of respect, because I’m not gonna run away from it. My mom always taught me, and my dad as well, you get your (butt) kicked and you don’t come back home until you come battle again.”

Butler said afterward that the play got him going.

“I like that. I’m all for that. It makes me key in a lot more. It pushes that will that I have to win a lot more. It makes me smile,” Butler said. “I just don’t know if I’m the best person to talk to.”

The Celtics found that out the hard way.

It ruined what had been a solid night for Williams, who was inserted back into the rotation after sitting out the series opener. He played 25 minutes and had nine points, two rebounds and two assists off the bench.

But Williams said he isn’t going to dwell on how the game ended. He said his focus, and that of the team, is to head to Miami with an eye on getting back in the series.

“I battled and I’m going to keep battling,” Williams said. “He’s going to have to make every single tough shot the rest of the series, and I’m not going to turn and look otherwise because I respect him.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Bam Adebayo had 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, and Caleb Martin came off the bench to score 25 points for eighth-seeded Miami, which won twice in Boston to earn a chance to complete the sweep at home.

Game 3 is Sunday.

Jayson Tatum had 34 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Boston. But the Celtics star went 0 for 3 with two turnovers in the fourth quarter, when Boston blew an 89-77 lead en route to a second home loss in three nights. Jaylen Brown scored 16 points on 7-for-23 shooting; he went 1 for 5 with a turnover in the final quarter, when Miami outscored Boston 36-22.

The Celtics led by 11 in the third quarter and made it a dozen early in the fourth. It was a 96-87 Boston lead when Butler scored, going forehead-to-forehead with Grant Williams before hitting the free throw to complete the three-point play.

Butler sneered at Williams’ attempt to get him off his game with words, and after Tatum missed from long distance, Butler drove to the basket to make it a four-point game.

Miami erased it.

Miami trailed 98-96 when Butler was called for an offensive foul, kicking Marcus Smart after landing on a missed 3-pointer.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra challenged, but lost.

Butler responded.

He made a 17-footer to tie it 100-all, and then a short fadeaway to give Miami the lead. After Max Strus made one of two free throws, Adebayo scored on a putback dunk to make it 105-100 with less than a minute to play.

Boston used a 21-2 run to turn an eight-point, first-quarter deficit into an 11-point lead.

TIP-INS

Brown was 1 for 7 in the first quarter, when Tatum scored 12. Derrick White, who made a single 3-pointer, was the only player other than Tatum who scored more than 2 points in the first. … Adebayo and Butler each grabbed five rebounds in the first quarter. … Lowry and Grant Williams did a little shoving after Williams fouled Adebayo with nine minutes left in the second quarter, with no repercussions.

Miami trailed by nine at the half before turning it around with a franchise playoff-record 46 points in the third and outscoring Boston 66-50 over the final two quarters. It was Butler’s fifth game with 30 or more points this postseason and he added seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.

“One of the premier two-way basketball players of this association. … That’s what we needed.” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Down the stretch Jimmy was able to do everything we needed – as a scorer and as a facilitator.”

Bam Adebayo added 20 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent and Max Strus all added 15 points apiece. The Heat went 16 of 31 from the 3-point line.

The No. 8-seeded Heat have opened all three playoff series with road victories. Game 2 is Friday in Boston.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 30 points, but didn’t take a shot in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon added 19 points.

The Celtics, who are at their best when they’re defending and getting up more shots than their opponents, were 10 of 29 from beyond the arc.

“We lost our offensive purpose,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

The tip-off of Wednesday’s series marked the third time in four seasons that the Heat and Celtics have met in the conference finals. Boston won last year’s matchup in seven games.

Wednesday’s opener felt every bit like a continuation of that most recent meeting. Boston dominated inside early on and led by nine at halftime.

Spoelstra said his team was “more intentional” over the final 24 minutes.

Miami took a page out of the Celtics’ book and used a 13-1 run to quickly erase that gap and then nudged back in front in the third quarter, as Butler penetrated to create opportunities for his teammates.

The Heat outscored the Celtics 46-25 in the period and took a 103-91 lead into the fourth, prompting a few boos from the TD Garden crowd.

Boston responded, scoring the first seven points of the final period before a 3-pointer by Vincent ended the run.

Miami led 114-109 with just over three minutes to play when Brogdon was fouled by Butler. But he connected on just 1 of the 2 free throws. Butler was trapped on the next Miami possession before finding Martin for a corner 3.

Tatum travelled, giving the ball back to the Heat. A Miami miss gave the ball back to Boston, but Tatum was called again for travelling.

Miami wound the shot clock down before getting a 3-pointer by Butler to rattle in with 1:03 remaining.

The Celtics let Butler get loose early and he made them pay with 12 first-quarter points.

Boston’s defense tightened in the second and Butler didn’t take another shot until the 5:45 mark, an airball resulting in a shot clock violation. His second attempt of the quarter a few minutes later had the same result. He went into intermission with 15 points.

Meanwhile, the Celtics attacked the rim, outscoring the Heat 40-16 in the paint in the opening 24 minutes – the most allowed by Miami in a half this season. Boston also held an 11-2 advantage in second-chance points.

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami’s previous high in the playoffs was 43 points against Charlotte in 2016. … Lowry hit 5 of his first 6 shots, scoring 13 points in his first nine minutes of action. … Butler (12) and Adebayo (6) combined for 18 of Miami’s 28 points in the first quarter. It marked the seventh time Butler has reached double figures in the first period this postseason.

Celtics: Marcus Smart finished with 13 points and 11 assists. … Led 66-57 at halftime. With the score tied at 47, Boston outscored Miami 19-10 over the final 5:26 of the half. … Brown wore his black protective mask after going without it for the final two games of their semifinals matchup with the 76ers. He fractured a facial bone late in the regular season. … New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was in attendance.

On the eve of Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, arena officials on Tuesday showcased some of their new offerings. 

“This is what we wait for all season,” said Executive Chef Jason Gorman. “We get a chance to really come up with some great, winning combinations.

Dishes include new “Beat the Heat Bites” and a “617 New England Cod” complete with potatoes and a passion fruit butter sauce. 

A “Miami Vice Slice” comes topped with habanero bacon jam, pulled pork, mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh jalapeño peppers. 

With lots of spice on the menu, fans may need a drink. 

Speaking this week, officials said they’re prepared, with options including the “Magic City Margarita.” 

“We have it a little bit spicy, because we expect the series to be spicy and smoke in there because we’re going to smoke them,” said TD Garden General Manager of Restaurants Josh Stone. 

Beyond food, there is arena swag, as some vendors promise unique and limited inventory items all aimed at making an experience fit for champions. 

“They’re coming here to cheer on their team,” said TD Garden President Amy Latimer. “We got to make sure everything around it is the same quality as what the Celtics are doing on the court.”

Tipoff for Game One is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Boston. 

Celtics-Heat: The rematch is now officially set for the Eastern Conference finals.

Last season the Celtics had a 3-2 series lead over Miami in the NBA’s version of the final four before losing in Game 6. Boston then came within a late missed jump by Miami’s Jimmy Butler of seeing its season end in Game 7 before eventually holding on to advance to the NBA Finals.

Following a championship-round loss to Golden State, this season was themed “Unfinished Business” for this latest incarnation of the Celtics as they long to get another shot at the franchise’s 18th title.

They’re hoping to carry the momentum and lessons from Sunday’s blowout win over Philadelphia into what they expect to be another slugfest with the Heat. The teams split their four regular-season matchups.

“We had another opportunity today, as a team and for myself of just to kind of bounce back,” said Jayson Tatum, whose 51 points were the most ever in a Game 7. “I was relieved, I was happy about that, just to get another chance because our season could have been over in Game 6. Just being in another Game 7. … I was really excited, just for the moment.”

Tatum’s heroics topped the mark set by the Warriors’ Stephen Curry in the Warriors first-round win over Sacramento just two weeks ago.

It also silenced critics who began to doubt Tatum following back-to-back games in which he had trouble locating the scoring punch that put him in the MVP conversation this season.

“When he plays a well-rounded game, our team is different,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Boston entered just 7-9 in its last 16 home playoff games, but outscored Philadelphia 33-10 in the third quarter. That 23-point margin was the largest in any Game 7 quarter in league history.

The Celtics, who have played in more Game 7s than any team in NBA history, improved to 27-9 in those winner-take-all contests.

League MVP Joel Embiid, who became a force for the 76ers in the second half of the season after Tatum had been among the frontrunners in the first half, had nothing but praise for Tatum and the potential for the Celtics to represent the East again in the finals.

“I think they’re probably the best team in the league,” Embiid said. “They’re so talented and they got a lot of guys who can play great basketball.”

What might have been the most impressive about getting past Philadelphia was how the Celtics adjusted to claim the final two games of the series.

First, Boston benefitted from pleas from the players and the ultimate decision by Mazzulla to insert Robert Williams III into the lineup to play alongside fellow big man Al Horford. Then, the Celtics made tactical adjustment to use Williams as a third defender on the pick-and-rolls between Embiid and James Harden, forcing tougher looks for both in Game 7 in particular.

Now the Celtics will look to formulate a game plan to stop a Miami team that has fought its way back to the conference finals thanks to some epic performances by their biggest star in Butler.

It’s a challenge Tatum said the team feels ready to embrace.

“A team that we’re extremely familiar with, third time in four years I think playing them in the playoffs,” Tatum said. “Very well-coached team. They compete with the best of them. They play hard. They defend. They make plays. And they figure out a way to win games. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be highly competitive. And I’m looking forward to it.”

One game after missing 14 of his first 15 shots only to awaken in the fourth quarter, Tatum got off to the fast start the Celtics needed. He scored 25 in the back-and-forth first half and 17 more in Boston’s 33-10 third quarter that turned a three-point lead into a runaway.

The Celtics, who lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals, which begin on Wednesday in Boston.

Tatum broke the Game 7 record that Stephen Curry set with 50 points two weeks ago against Sacramento and added 13 rebounds.

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points for the Celtics, who rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series to keep alive their hopes for an unprecedented 18th NBA championship. Tatum was subbed out of the game with three minutes left to a standing ovation from the crowd, which soon broke out in a “Beat the Heat!” chant.

Newly crowned NBA MVP Joel Embiid scored 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting, and Tobias Harris scored 19 for Philadelphia. The Sixers lost in the conference semifinals for the third straight year, and the fifth time in six seasons; they have not gotten any farther since reaching the NBA Finals in 2001.

Tatum started 0 for 6 in a Game 5 loss and missed 14 of his first 15 shots overall from the floor in Game 6 before erupting for four 3-pointers in the final 4:14 to force the decisive seventh game.

He picked up where he left off, scoring Boston’s first basket and 11 points in the first quarter, 14 more in the second and outscoring the Sixers on his own, 17-10, in the third. The 33-10 edge in the third was the most lopsided quarter in a Game 7 since at least 1997.

BANGED-UP BROWN

Brown began the game with the black mask he has worn since breaking a bone in his face before the All-Star break. He took it off and soon absorbed an elbow to the face from James Harden, who was assessed a flagrant foul.

Brown continued without the mask but finished the half with cotton in his left nostril. He also played with an edge, making both foul shots and following it with a steal and layup as Boston went on a 9-0 run to erase a 35-26 deficit.

Brown also dove into the Sixers bench to save a ball, then had words with the bench after Georges Niang grabbed his leg and kept him from getting back on the court. Both players were given technical fouls.

Williams followed the commotion with a layup that tied the score 35-all.

WHAT’S UP, DOC?

Sixers coach Doc Rivers is 6-10 in seventh games. The 10 defeats are five more than any other NBA coach and three more than the NHL’s Mike Babcock and Bruce Boudreau. His teams are 6-16 in their last 22 chances to close out an opponent in a playoff series.

“It’s an honor to keep getting teams to these places,” he said before the game. “There’s people, your friends who look at you like, ‘Why do you like this?’ And this is what it’s about. You put yourself out there because you want to win. And you know if you do that you have to put yourself in these situations over and over and over again. And it’s worth it. It’s worth it. And that’s what I tell my guys.”

TIP-INS

Tatum is the sixth player since 1997 to score 25 points or more in the first half of a seventh game. The last was Luka Doncic, who had 29 against the Clippers in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. Paul Pierce scored 26 for the Celtics against Cleveland in the second round in 2008. … The 10 points Philadelphia scored were tied for the fewest in any Game 7 quarter in the shot clock era.

The defending conference champs are in familiar territory. Boston trailed 3-2 last season in the second round against Milwaukee before it won Game 6 on the road and the clincher at home.

Game 7 is Sunday.

Tatum, who averaged 30.1 points in the regular season, never stopped shooting even as the misses kept coming. He missed 14 of his first 15 shots overall from the floor and his ineffectiveness was a key reason the Celtics couldn’t hold a 16-point lead.

With a shot at their first conference final since 2001 at stake, the Sixers slogged through the first half before Joel Embiid flashed his MVP form and rallied the Sixers to a fourth-quarter lead.

Tyrese Maxey hit two free throws with 5:25 left for an 83-81 edge.

And that was it for Philly.

Tatum buried one 3 for the 84-83 lead and a second that made it 87-83 and put the Celtics in firm control of Game 6.

Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 26 points for the 76ers.

76ers coach Doc Rivers has blown three 3-1 series leads over his playoff career. While the 76ers never got that far ahead, this is their second loss at home in the series and they seemingly had seized momentum in the fourth quarter.

Tatum instead stuck it to the 76ers with one final 3-point dagger for a 95-84 lead.

After Embiid’s pull-up jumper tied the game 81-all, 76ers didn’t make a bucket over the final 6:13 of the game

Tatum missed all 10 shots, including five 3-point attempts, in the first half half as the Celtics led by seven. Tatum has said he may need surgery on his left wrist in the offseason in the wake of a hard fall. Whatever the cause of his shooting ails, he found the cure in the final 12 minutes and the East champs still have life.

Tatum finished with 19 points on just 5-for-21 shooting but the final stat line mattered little after he keyed the 14-3 run that kept the Celtics’ conference repeat hopes alive under rookie head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Just like Game 3 when the Sixers squandered the momentum off Embiid’s MVP ceremony, the 76ers again failed to keep a packed house as rocking as they were at tipoff. The Celtics took a fast 15-3 lead and that silenced the crowd and discombobulated the Sixers.

The Celtics led 40-26 because — in part because of three 3s from Malcolm Brogdon — but an ineffective half from Embiid, James Harden and Tobias Harris. Embiid and Harris started 1 of 7 and Harden 2 of 8 and yet, the deficit could have been much worse.

The Sixers steadied themselves somewhat — creaky Harden surprised everyone with a rare, thunderous dunk — and the Sixers had life down only 50-43 at the break.

HE SAID IT

“I’m ready for war.” — Mazzulla, with a stern look, on his mood ahead of Game 6.

BIG FANS

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, Roots drummer Questlove, Eagles center Jason Kelce and his brother and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, and baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. attended the game.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Boston started 6-foot-10 Robert Williams instead of Derrick White. Williams started his first postseason game of the season. Mazzulla said he made the change because “Rob gives us a lift.”

76ers: Harden finished 4 for 16, 0 for 6 behind the arc.

The 76ers led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter as home fans booed the Celtics, and can close out the series and advance to the conference finals when they host Game 6 on Thursday night.

It was the third straight 30-point game in the series for Embiid, who also had seven rebounds, four blocks and three 3-pointers.

Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and six 3-pointers. James Harden finished with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 36 points but was just 11 of 27 from the field. Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points. The Celtics went 12 of 38 from the 3-point line.

The previous two occasions the 76ers were in a second-round series that was tied 2-2, they were blown out in Game 5 — a 36-point loss to Toronto in 2019 and 35-point loss to Miami last season.

Not this time.

The 76ers led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and took an 88-72 lead into the fourth.

A quick flurry by the Celtics cut the deficit to 11, but Philadelphia responded with a 10-2 run to push it back up to 102-83.

Philadelphia made a concerted effort to get the ball to Embiid in the post from the outset. He was able to knock down midrange jumpers, helping to open the floor for his teammates as Boston’s big men were pulled out of the paint.

Meanwhile, the Celtics struggled to find their shot throughout.

The 76ers enjoyed an early rebounding advantage and had success with Embiid running pick-and-roll sets at Al Horford. It led to scoring opportunities for Embiid and contributed to Philadelphia building a 15-point lead in the first half.

Tatum missed his first six attempts before hitting a runner with 5:48 left in the second quarter. He finished the first half with 15 points but was just 3 of 11 from the field (1 of 6 from 3-point range).

Boston eventually cobbled together a 10-0 run to cut into the deficit, but Philadelphia settled down and went into halftime with a 58-49 lead.

TIP-INS

76ers: Embiid had 21 first-half points, going 9 for 9 from the free throw line.

Celtics: Their 103 points were their fewest of this postseason. … Boston shot 5 of 19 from beyond the arc in the opening 24 minutes.

Marcus Smart’s potential winner was a tick too late and the Celtics now head home for Tuesday’s Game 5. The 76ers are guaranteed to return home for Game 6 on Thursday.

Smart and Jayson Tatum keyed a Celtics rally from 15 points down with 2 minutes left in the third quarter in hopes of seizing control of the series.

The Sixers were on the brink of defeat numerous times over the final 17 minutes, none more than when Joel Embiid crashed into Smart on a driving, one-handed bank shot with 1:49 left but was whistled for an offensive foul. The play was reviewed and the call stood. Boston kept its 112-111 lead with 1:49 left in OT.

Embiid, the NBA MVP, kept his composure and eventually got to the line to sink two free throws with 59 seconds left and the season in the balance.

Embiid had 34 points and 13 rebounds. Harden added nine assists and eight rebounds.

Tatum struggled to score early but finished with 24 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and Smart had 21.

They went to overtime tied 107-all after Smart was short on a 3 at the horn on one of the few clutch shots Boston missed in the fourth quarter.

Boston’s fun began in the period when Smart and Brown buried consecutive 3-pointers and Tatum attacked the rim for a bucket that wiped out an eight-point hole in 90 seconds. Al Horford put them ahead 98-90 — on a possession that started on the other end when Tyrese Maxey had his shot blocked — and shimmied for the crowd as boos rained on him.

Yes, the 76ers had home court but fans tensed up as memories all those second-round exits since 2001 stirred inside the building. Smart and Malcolm Brogdon hit consecutive 3s for a 105-100 lead.

But it was P.J. Tucker, the heart and guts of the Sixers, who again did the dirty work on a defensive rebound a bucket. He made the free throw with 1:05 left and the tie game gave them new life.

Good Game James showed up in Game 4 for the 76ers and Embiid played more like the MVP he was in the regular season than the banged-up edition with a sprained right knee of the last two games.

Harden played in Game 1 like he was still the MVP in Houston and dropped 45 points to spur the upset road victory. Then, his game disappeared and he played two of the worst games of his career. Harden’s 5-for-28 combined shooting in Games 2 and 3 was worst effort for him over any two-game span in his career — regular season or playoffs.

The best the 76ers could do ahead of Game 4 was hope for a productive Harden.

Philly got him.

Harden hit all three 3s in the first half and scored 21 points, five more than his Game 3 total. Embiid was as potent as he needed to perform and had 19 points and 11 boards to give the 76ers a 59-50 lead.

Boston suffered this time from a lack of star power. Tatum missed his first eight shots before he scored a bucket just before the half, just one woeful effort in a half where the Celtics shot 38% from the floor.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Horford joined Tatum as Celtics with one basket in the first half. Brown tried to help with a 7-of-11 effort for 16 points.

76ers: Julius Erving was in the house. … Embiid and Harden are the first Sixers teammates with 30 points each in a playoff game since Embiid and Seth Curry did it in June 2021 against Atlanta.

Williams got up shaken, bloodied and needed a breather. Much like Boston after its Game 1 debacle, Williams absorbed the beating and came back to help the Celtics continue to punish the suddenly shaky 76ers.

Jayson Tatum scored 27 points, Jaylen Brown had 23 and the Boston Celtics spoiled Embiid’s MVP coronation, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-102 Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Williams didn’t score a point in 23 minutes, but his toughness in shaking off the sneaker to the back of his head symbolized the way Boston has continued to get up after a Game 1 embarrassment.

“I just thankful he just didn’t fully lean his weight into it,” Williams said. “He definitely got me pretty badly.”

Embiid had 30 points and 13 rebounds in his second game back from a sprained right knee after receiving his MVP trophy in a pregame ceremony.

Boston gave 76ers fans little reason to cheer again.

The Sixers pulled within five on De’Anthony Melton’s 3-pointer to get the crowd back into the game for all of 20 seconds before Malcolm Brogdon countered with a 3 to give Boston a 100-92 lead. Al Horford crushed the Sixers again — as he has most of his career — when he buried a 3 for a seven-point lead.

Embiid, forced to try and win it alone without any serious offensive helped, missed a pull-up 18-footer and Tatum drained a jumper that all but put the game away. Tatum hit one more 3 for good measure and the Celtics seized control of the series.

Embiid was flanked by his parents and teammates as he received the MVP trophy from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before Game 3. Sixers fans roared as Embiid hoisted the trophy high over his head. Then the moment turned touching. Embiid’s young son, Arthur, ran onto the court and into the arms of his father.

Embiid held his son, who wore a “My dad is the MVP” T-shirt, and wiped tears from his eyes as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!”

“Honestly, he’s the main reason why I’m really here,” Embiid said. “Becoming a father really changed my whole life. I just wanted to show him a good example.”

The good times didn’t last long.

Boston spiked any emotional carryover from the ceremony and raced to a quick 10-point lead.

The Sixers spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. All the energy spent to come back and take brief leads quickly evaporated and the Celtics snagged them right back.

Embiid gamely tried to carry the Sixers on one good knee, but got almost no help from James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. Harden’s 45-point effort in a Game 1 upset in Boston seemed more an aberration than a sign of things to come. Harden followed his 2 of 14 in a Game 2 loss with 3-for-14 shooting for 16 points.

Harden’s 5-for-28 shooting the last two games is the worst for him over any two-game span in his career, regular season or playoffs, in which he’s attempted at least 20 field goals.

“We’re just trying to make him work as much as we can,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Trying to keep him off the free-throw line. Guys are just working to take away those details.”

Harden failed to pick up the Sixers in the third, when he could have changed the game.

He did hit P.J. Tucker for a 3 that pulled the Sixers to 74-72. Harden then missed two straight jumpers and fouled Brown on a tough layup. Brown made the free throw and the Celtics were back up by eight.

Harden oddly passed up plenty of easy looks and layups and also committed five turnovers.

Embiid had scored 53 points against the Celtics in an early-April matchup, but could never get cooking in Game 3. The Celtics double-teamed Embiid from the jump and he looked gassed by the end of the third. Without a teammate he could trust to make shots, Embiid took the scoring load on himself and scored 12 points in the third when he played the entire quarter.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Mazzulla was caught muttering “I am the worst coach ever” at end of a day-off video call. He said before Game 3 it was because he forgot to recognize Marcus Smart in a team video session for winning the NBA Hustle Award.

76ers: Made 12 of 12 free throws in the first quarter.

The Celtics tied the series at one game apiece as the Eastern Conference semifinals series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.

Malcolm Brogdon added 23 points, connecting on six of Boston’s 20 3-pointers. Derrick White and Marcus Smart added 15 points apiece. Jayson Tatum played most of the game in foul trouble and was held to seven points.

Boston ratcheted up its defense and limited a 76ers team that hit 17 3-pointers in its Game 1 win to just 6 of 30 from beyond the arc on Wednesday. The Celtics led by as many as 36 points in the fourth quarter.

Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 16 points. Embiid finished with 15 points, three rebounds and five blocks in his first game back from a sprained right knee that caused him to miss the final game of the 76ers’ first-round sweep of Brooklyn. He also sat out Philadelphia’s Game 1 win on Monday.

Embiid’s return came a day after being voted MVP for the first time.

He was cleared to play by doctors and training staff following a pregame, on-court workout. That was after he did some light work during the 76ers’ morning shootaround.

Tatum picked up three fouls in the first half. He was called for his fourth at the 7:34 mark of the third quarter when he knocked Harden to the floor while trying to fight through a screen.

It forced him to play a little less aggressively and helped Philadelphia cut what had been an 18-point Boston lead to 73-60 with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter.

But Tatum’s teammates picked up the slack, leading the way as the Celtics closed the quarter on a 19-5 run to get it back up to 92-65 entering the fourth.

Embiid started slowly offensively, but with the 76ers struggling to make shots from the outside, he made an almost immediate impact defensively.

First, he blocked an early shot by Smart and then forced White to adjust another attempt. Embiid had five blocks his first 13 minutes of action.

But his conditioning was noticeably lacking as he lumbered into sets at times. He played just shy of seven minutes in the first quarter before getting his first rest. He returned for the final 1:05 of the period.

Embiid knocked down his first field goal of the night. a jumper over Grant Williams, with 21.4 seconds left before tripping as he backpedaled back down the court. He quickly rose to his feet. He finished the first half with 13 points, going 7 of 8 from the free throw line.

TIP-INS

76ers: Shot 1 of 13 from the 3-point line in the first half. … Didn’t get their first offensive rebound until the 9:41 mark of the second quarter

Celtics: Tatum’s seven points marked the first time he was held to single digits in a playoff game since Game 2 of Boston’s 2021 first-round series against Brooklyn, when he had nine. … Boston led 57-49 at halftime. … Had just three turnovers in the opening 24 minutes.