In Philadelphia, Derrick White showcased his scoring prowess by netting 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Boston Celtics to a 117-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. This clash featured two Eastern Conference frontrunners.

Jayson Tatum contributed a game-high 29 points, while Jrue Holiday added 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists for the Celtics, who played without Jaylen Brown (non-COVID illness) and Kristaps Porzingis (right knee contusion).

Despite the absence of key players, the Celtics maintained their dominance, with Sam Hauser and Al Horford stepping into the starting lineup for Brown and Porzingis. Horford, especially, had a notable performance, scoring 14 points and making a crucial block against Tyrese Maxey, setting the stage for Derrick White’s pivotal 3-pointer that expanded the Celtics’ lead to seven points with 4:47 remaining. Horford’s 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc contributed to the Celtics building a 17-point lead at one juncture.

The fatigued 76ers, playing their second game in a back-to-back and third in four nights, struggled defensively as the Celtics executed precise ball movement. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey managed 20 points each for Philadelphia, falling below their season scoring averages.

Embiid, with a minus-25 rating in his 34 minutes on the court, and the Sixers faced challenges in the second half, where their typically high-powered offense was limited to just 49 points. Despite the tough schedule, the Celtics showcased resilience and strategic play, securing a significant victory in this matchup of Eastern Conference leaders.