Game 1 wasn’t fun for Philadelphia 76ers fans. The team struggled mightily, blowing countless defensive assignments and looking lost on the offensive end. Boston managed to capitalize on virtually every mistake, shooting 17-35 from deep and keeping Ben Simmons in check.
It wasn’t all bad, though. Joel Embiid finally returned to regular season form, tallying 31 points, 13 rebounds and five assists while keeping the Sixers competitive for stretches in the first three quarters.
Boston did an excellent job defending Simmons at the point of attack, using a wide array of weapons to keep him out of the paint and limit his playmaking opportunities.