The Celtics might have gotten a much-needed closing performance by Jayson Tatum, but they might not have even been in position to win without the start-to-finish effort of Marcus Smart.
Smart finished with a team-high 22 points, on an efficient 53.1 percent shooting from the field and 3-for-8 from three-point range. He also pulled down seven rebounds, dished out seven assists, and made two steals at the defensive end. Smart tied center Robert Williams with a game-high plus-18 rating.
The Celtics’ guard play was a major factor in the team maintaining a lead for much of the game as Tatum struggled mightily with his shooting. Smart, Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White combined for 34 first-half points on 72.2 percent shooting, which kept the C’s ahead on a night where if the shots didn’t fall for them, it could’ve gotten ugly.
Keep scrolling for Marcus Smart highlights from a big-time win for the Celtics, who forced a Game 7 against the 76ers in Boston on Sunday.
