Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, which ended 128-96 for the Boston Celtics.

progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – Game 4 of the first-round playoffs was the showcase for Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard. Pritchard scored 32 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 128-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Sunday night, April 26, 2026, US time.

The Boston Celtics now hold a 3-1 lead heading into Game 5 at TD Garden in Boston on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, US time. A win would secure a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Philadelphia 76ers will be able to return Joel Embiid in this match, who was sidelined after undergoing appendectomy. However, the Boston Celtics are also in prime condition, with Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta starting.

In addition to having Joel Embiid back on the court for the first time since April 6th, the Philadelphia 76ers also had Kelly Oubre Jr., who had been questionable due to right adductor soreness, return. They both started alongside Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Paul George.

Early in the game, the Boston Celtics’ centers dominated the game. Neemias Queta scored the first five points with a pair of dunks and 1-of-2 free throws. When Nikola Vučević came on for him about three minutes into the game, he scored Boston’s next four points.

Embiid, meanwhile, was uncharacteristically good. He immediately drew several fouls and hit all four of his free throws in his first seven minutes on the court. He scored eight of the 76ers’ 10 points before he went to the bench, with the Celtics leading by one point.

While the players were in the thick of things, the game became tight and others were unable to score. Maxey didn’t even attempt a shot until about three minutes remained in the first quarter.

Toward the end of the first quarter, the Boston Celtics’ reserves scored eight unanswered points. Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh maintained the momentum with three offensive rebounds off missed shots and a three-pointer each. By the end of the quarter, the Boston Celtics’ reserves had scored 24 points—more than the 18 points scored by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jaylen Brown started the second quarter with a three-pointer from the corner for his first shot of the game. Payton Pritchard was again the star, hitting his fourth three-pointer just minutes into the quarter.

After Sam Hauser hit a three-pointer, the Boston Celtics took a 45-24 lead and the Xfinity Mobile Arena began to quiet down. Although the Philadelphia 76ers began scoring and building momentum, a Luka Garza three-pointer and a Jaylen Brown three-pointer past Paul George helped the Boston Celtics maintain a solid lead.

At halftime, the Boston Celtics led 56-38, with Payton Pritchard leading the way with 18 points. No other Boston Celtics player scored double digits, with Jaylen Brown coming in closest with 8 points.

By the end of the third quarter, Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum had 18 and 20 points, respectively. But Payton Pritchard wasn’t over yet. He hit two more three-pointers, a difficult fadeaway shot, two late-quarter points, and a couple of free throws to finish the third quarter with 32 points—10 more than any other player in the game.

By the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics were already up 21 points, and the game was almost over. Then, less than two minutes later, Jason Tatum scored four points, extending the lead to 30, making it even more difficult for the Boston Celtics to catch up.

Another Jason Tatum three-pointer sealed the win with about six minutes left.  And less than a minute later, the Philadelphia 76ers decided to end the game and bring the entire team off the bench.

Payton Pritchard was undoubtedly the Boston Celtics’ MVP. He scored 32 points on 57.1% shooting, 6 three-pointers, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal.

Jason Tatum scored 30 points on 50% shooting, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. Interestingly, after shooting just 1-of-8 in the first half, Jason Tatum hit 7-of-8 in the second half.

Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown scored 20 points on 40% shooting, 7 rebounds, and two steals.

Overall, the Boston Celtics shot 48.3% from the field and 45.3% from three-point range, with 24 three-pointers made, while the Philadelphia 76ers shot 41.3% from the field and 30% from three-point range.

The Boston Celtics also won the rebounding battle 51-30 and outscored the Philadelphia 76ers 87-80. However, they ended the game with more turnovers, 12-8.

Writer/Editor: Bembo