Celtics 108, 76ers 100: Boston Takes Game 3

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series, with Jaylen Brown leading Boston with 25 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks as the Celtics took a 2-1 series lead in Philadelphia.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Boston opened the night with a steady start and carried a 29-24 lead through the first 12 minutes. The Celtics were sharper from the perimeter early, and that spacing helped them create the small but important cushion on the road.

Second Quarter

The Celtics added to their advantage in the second, outscoring Philadelphia 25-23 to take a 54-47 lead into halftime. The 76ers stayed within reach behind Tyrese Maxey’s shot creation, but Boston continued to generate efficient offense and limited empty possessions.

Third Quarter

Philadelphia made its best push after halftime, edging Boston 27-25 in the third quarter. That trimmed the deficit to 79-74 entering the fourth and gave the home crowd reason to believe the 76ers could fully swing the game.

Fourth Quarter

Each time the 76ers threatened, the Celtics had an answer. Boston matched Philadelphia’s urgency and outscored the Sixers 29-26 in the final period, leaning on timely three-point shooting and efficient free-throw work to hold off the comeback attempt and come away with the win.

Key Performers

Jaylen Brown, Celtics: Brown led Boston with 25 points and added seven rebounds plus three blocks, giving the Celtics production on both ends.

Jayson Tatum, Celtics: Tatum paced Boston’s ball movement with seven assists and helped organize an offense that finished with 21 assists as a team.

Tyrese Maxey, 76ers: Maxey led all scorers with 31 points and six assists, carrying much of Philadelphia’s offense while trying to keep the game within one or two possessions.

VJ Edgecombe, 76ers: Edgecombe pulled down 10 rebounds, helping Philadelphia compete despite Boston’s overall edge on the glass.

NerdSports Stat: Boston made 20 three-pointers and 16 free throws, meaning 76 of its 108 points came from threes or the foul line — more than 70 percent of the Celtics’ offense in Game 3.

Game Analysis

This game was decided by Boston’s efficiency in the highest-value areas. The Celtics shot 42.6 percent from three and made 20 of 47 attempts from deep, while Philadelphia finished at 34.3 percent from long range on 12 of 35 shooting. That eight-made-three difference accounted for a 24-point swing and gave Boston margin even though the overall field-goal percentages were relatively close.

The Celtics also gained an edge at the stripe, going 16-for-17 on free throws compared with Philadelphia’s 12-for-16. Boston won the rebound battle 45-37 and finished with 21 assists to the 76ers’ 18, two indicators of a team that was a little more organized and a little more complete across the full 48 minutes.

For Philadelphia, Maxey’s 31 points kept pressure on the Celtics throughout the night, and the 76ers showed real life in the third quarter. But Boston’s ability to maintain control without a dramatic scoring burst stood out. The Celtics led after the first quarter, led at halftime, and responded in the fourth whenever the Sixers narrowed the gap. In a playoff road setting, that consistency matters.

Another telling number was shot distribution. Boston attempted 47 threes and only 17 free throws, yet still reached 108 points because of its accuracy from deep. Philadelphia attempted six more total field goals, 87 to 81, but could not match Boston’s perimeter output or closing execution.

Closing Context

With the result, Boston now leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series 2-1. The Celtics also move to 56-26 overall, while Philadelphia is now 45-37 and faces added pressure heading into Game 4 at home. For the 76ers, the next contest becomes especially important if they want to avoid heading back to Boston in a deeper series hole.

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