Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Celtics: 4 takeaways from heart pounding Game 3 thriller

By Dylan Woods

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hugs Al Horford #42 after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoff against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 101-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics hugs Al Horford #42 after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round of the 2018 NBA Playoff against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 101-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

A steal for the (almost win)

No big win is complete without a little bit of luck. For the Boston Celtics, that bit came down the stretch in the fourth quarter.

Philly was going to win the game if they got an open shot. The shot clock was off and they were at home in a must-win game. If J.J. Redick, Marco Belinelli, or Joel Embiid got open, that shot was falling no matter what.

Instead, the Celtics didn’t need to do much to stop the Sixers offense. Redick took care of that himself. He attempted a pass that only he knew was being thrown, Terry Rozier picked it off, Jaylen Brown scored, and the Celtics led by two with 1.7 seconds left.

If the game had been over right there, it would have gone down as one of the biggest flubs in NBA playoff history. Instead, the play only indirectly helped the Celtics win. Belinelli hit the corner two, the whole confetti thing happened (a bad omen for the Sixers), and Boston would go on to win in overtime.

But that probably doesn’t happen if not for a stupid turnover by a smart player in Redick.

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