24 minutes into tonight's game, the Philadelphia 76ers were winning by 11 points and had completely dominated the Boston Celtics in the paint to the tune of 30-6.
And right on cue, the most reliable story arc this side of Law and Order played itself out once again. We've seen this game dozens of times over the past few seasons: Brett Brown has these images - different opponents, same result - indelibly burned into his brain. Nerlens Noel is Olivia Benson. Hollis Thompson is Elliot Stabler. (We miss you, Stabler.)
But despite the Celtics turning up the intensity over the final two quarters, the Sixers were able to hang in there until just before the final buzzer, falling to Boston 110-106 at the TD Garden on Friday night.