76ers vs Celtics Match Player Stats: Boston Wins 118-109

Struggling to find a single source that breaks down the complete 76ers vs celtics match player stats right after the buzzer? You’re not alone. Box scores flash points but rarely explain how a game was actually won. This deep-dive solves that by turning every stat, lineup quirk, and momentum swing into actionable insight—starting with the exact battle that decided Boston’s 118–109 victory over Philadelphia at TD Garden.

The Lead
On March 12, 2025, a packed TD Garden of 19,156 fans watched the Boston Celtics dispatch the Philadelphia 76ers 118–109 in a matchup that felt tighter than the final margin. Boston’s ability to stretch the floor in the second half and generate high-quality shots from multiple initiators turned a 60–60 halftime deadlock into a commanding late lead. While Joel Embiid delivered a colossal 38-point, 12-rebound night, the Celtics’ balanced offensive machine—anchored by Jayson Tatum’s 34 points and Jaylen Brown’s 27—proved too varied for a Philly rotation that leaned almost entirely on two stars.

The 76ers stayed connected through the first two quarters, winning the second 33–29 behind Embiid’s interior dominance and Tyrese Maxey’s quick triggers. Once the third quarter began, Boston’s switching defense forced Philadelphia’s role players into rushed decisions, holding the 76ers to 25 points while the Celtics dropped 32. That margin built a cushion Boston never surrendered, exposing the visitor’s shallow creation and poor bench production.

Match Overview Table

Core Match Statistics Overview

Three-Point Efficiency Separated the Teams

• Boston hit two more triples on only two extra attempts, translating volume into meaningful offensive rating bumps. The Celtics generated 42 points from deep, compared to Philadelphia’s 36, effectively creating a two-possession gap purely from perimeter shooting.
• The 76ers’ starting backcourt outside Maxey combined for just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc, forcing Embiid to work against packed paint looks in the second half.

Ball Movement Favored the Celtics

• Boston logged 28 assists on 41 made baskets, an assist percentage of 68.3%, while Philadelphia managed only 22 dimes on 43 makes, a 51.2% rate. That extra half-dozen high-quality looks came directly from swing-swing sequences that collapsed the 76ers’ rotation.
• The gap widened in the second half, where the Celtics assisted on 16 of 20 field goals after the break, compared to Philadelphia’s 8 assists on 18 makes.

Free Throw Disparity Shifted Late

• The Celtics attempted 26 free throws and knocked down 22, abusing Philadelphia’s foul trouble on drives from Tatum and Brown. The 76ers, despite Embiid’s physicality, earned only 14 attempts—a direct result of Boston’s verticality discipline at the rim and fewer second-chance opportunities.
• Over the final six minutes, Boston went 10-of-12 from the stripe, methodically extinguishing any comeback hope.

Period-by-Period Analysis

Quarter 1: Celtics 31, 76ers 27

• Boston opened with a 9–2 run as Kristaps Porzingis drilled two early threes, stretching Philadelphia’s drop coverage. Embiid answered with back-to-back post scores, but the Celtics’ quick ball reversals created open corner looks for Derrick White.
• The 76ers committed five turnovers in the opening frame, gifting Boston six fast-break points. Philly’s half-court sets looked disjointed whenever Maxey didn’t touch the paint.
• A late Tatum pull-up triple over Tobias Harris gave Boston a four-point edge, setting the tone for a night where the Celtics hunted specific mismatches ruthlessly.

Quarter 2: 76ers 33, Celtics 29

• Joel Embiid took over, scoring 15 points in the quarter on 6-of-8 shooting. He drew two fouls on Al Horford and forced Joe Mazzulla to briefly insert Luke Kornet, whom Embiid immediately punished.
• Maxey added a pair of step-back triples, one in transition, capitalizing on live-ball turnovers. The 76ers shot 52.4% from the field in the period and appeared ready to seize control.
• Boston stayed afloat via bench contributions from Payton Pritchard, who hit two threes and assisted a Payton-Watson cut. The Celtics’ reserves outscored Philadelphia’s second unit 10–2 in the quarter, preserving the tie at halftime.

Quarter 3: Celtics 32, 76ers 25

• Boston’s defensive switch flipped the game. They began pre-switching pick-and-rolls involving Embiid, forcing Maxey and Kyle Lowry into isolations against Brown and Holiday. Philly’s offense produced just 0.89 points per possession.
• Jaylen Brown erupted for 12 points in the frame, attacking closeouts and finishing through contact. A 14–4 Celtics run across the middle of the quarter opened a 78–70 lead that never shrank below five.
• The 76ers missed all five of their three-point attempts in the quarter. Without perimeter gravity, Embiid faced constant double-teams that forced two post turnovers.

Quarter 4: Celtics 26, 76ers 24

• Philly trimmed the deficit to six with 4:12 left after an Embiid and-one, but Tatum responded with a step-back three and a driving floater on consecutive possessions, stretching the lead back to 11.
• Boston’s switching scheme held the 76ers to 38.1% shooting in the quarter. Every non-Embiid/Maxey player combined for only four points in the final 12 minutes.
• Porzingis blocked two shots inside the final three minutes, both on driving attempts by Oubre, effectively sealing the outcome. Boston’s clutch free-throw shooting then iced the game.

Detailed Team Player Statistics

Philadelphia 76ers Player Stats

Joel Embiid – 38 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 14/22 FG
Embiid operated as the central engine all night, posting a 72.7% true shooting rate while drawing constant double-teams. His ability to find cutters out of the post created open looks, but the supporting cast converted just two of those passes into assists. In the second half, fatigue and Boston’s timely digs led to three critical turnovers that stalled Philadelphia’s comeback.

Tyrese Maxey – 26 PTS, 7 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL, 10/19 FG
Maxey’s speed troubled Boston in transition, and he knocked down 4-of-8 from deep. He was the only 76er beyond Embiid who could consistently break down the defense off the dribble. Late in the third quarter, however, Boston started forcing him right into help, shrinking his driving lanes and limiting him to two field goals in the final 14 minutes.

Tobias Harris – 15 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 6/13 FG
Harris canned a couple of corner threes and attacked closeouts well in the first half, but his offensive footprint vanished after the break. He attempted just three shots in the second half and was routinely targeted by Tatum in isolation, giving up three straight buckets during Boston’s third-quarter surge.

Kelly Oubre Jr. – 12 PTS, 3 REB, 2 STL, 5/11 FG
Oubre provided energy on the glass and two transition dunks. His defensive activity created a pair of steals that ignited early offense. Unfortunately, he went 0-for-4 in the fourth quarter, including two blocked attempts at the rim, emblematic of Philly’s lack of reliable tertiary scoring.

Boston Celtics Player Stats

Jayson Tatum – 34 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 12/22 FG
Tatum operated with patience, blending isolations against Harris and Oubre with quick catch-and-shoot triples off screens. He generated 1.38 points per possession when initiating the offense in the second half. His playmaking out of double-teams—particularly a skip pass to White for a dagger three with 2:40 left—showcased a complete floor game.

Jaylen Brown – 27 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 10/18 FG
Brown attacked the rim relentlessly in the third, shooting 5-of-6 in the paint during that frame alone. His ability to convert in traffic, combined with an improved handle against pressure, kept Boston’s offense afloat when Philadelphia focused on Tatum. Defensively, he held Harris to zero second-half field goals in primary matchups.

Derrick White – 18 PTS, 4 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 6/11 FG (4/7 3PT)
White delivered the two-way glue performance that has become his trademark. He scored timely buckets, disrupted passing lanes, and blocked a transition layup from Maxey. His four made threes all came off assists, a product of Boston’s unselfish ball movement and his sharp relocation.

Kristaps Porzingis – 16 PTS, 9 REB, 2 BLK, 6/12 FG
Porzingis stretched the floor early and protected the rim late. He converted two pick-and-pop threes and drew Embiid away from the basket, opening driving corridors for Brown. His two fourth-quarter blocks underlined his value as a last-line defender.

Statistical Leaders Summary Table

Analytical Breakdowns: Why Boston Won

Balanced Offensive Production

Boston’s scoring distribution overwhelmed Philadelphia’s defensive focus. While the 76ers relied on Embiid and Maxey for 58.7% of their points, the Celtics had four starters reach at least 16 points.

• The Celtics’ bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 24–8, with Payton Pritchard contributing 9 points and 3 assists. This depth allowed Mazzulla to keep energy high while the starters rested.
• Every Boston starter posted an offensive rating above 115; three 76ers starters finished below 100, amplifying the efficiency gap.

Elite Defensive Switching in the Second Half

Boston’s decision to switch all actions involving non-Embiid players suffocated Philadelphia’s half-court flow. Over the final two quarters, the 76ers shot just 39.5% from the field and committed 10 turnovers.

• Holiday and White navigated screens seamlessly, preventing Maxey from turning the corner. This forced Embiid to initiate from 25 feet, blunting his efficiency and increasing fatigue.
• The Celtics also limited Philadelphia’s second-chance points to 8 for the entire game, compared to their season average of 14.7.

Free Throw Margin Management

Boston’s ability to draw fouls without fouling was decisive. The Celtics shot 12 more free throws and made 11 more, essentially matching the final scoring margin through the stripe.

• Tatum and Brown combined for 14 free throw attempts, attacking downhill when Philadelphia’s defense scrambled after stops. Embiid attempted just 6 free throws, well below his season average of 10.1, as Boston’s bigs stayed vertical.
• In clutch situations (final five minutes, game within five points), Boston went 8-for-8 from the line; Philadelphia didn’t attempt a single free throw.

Why Philadelphia Lost

Heavy Dependence on Two Players

Philadelphia generated just 0.72 points per possession on plays where neither Embiid nor Maxey attempted a shot. The supporting cast’s inability to create advantages left the offense one-dimensional.

• Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre shot a combined 3-of-11 after halftime. The bench unit, featuring De’Anthony Melton and Paul Reed, managed just 8 points on 3-of-14 shooting, severely undercutting any momentum built by the starters.

Turnovers in Critical Stretches

Philly’s 15 turnovers led to 22 Boston points. Seven of those giveaways occurred in the third quarter, directly fueling the Celtics’ transition game and quieting the 76ers’ half-court defense.

• Embiid committed three post turnovers when Boston sent late doubles. Maxey twice dribbled into traps in the backcourt, leading to uncontested layups.
• Live-ball turnovers were especially damaging: Boston scored 16 fast-break points off those mistakes, while Philadelphia managed only 4 points off Celtics turnovers.

Perimeter Defense Wilted Against Ball Movement

Philadelphia’s rotations were a step slow against Boston’s drive-and-kick game. The Celtics’ 14 made threes included 8 classified as “wide open” via NBA tracking data, a number that simply shouldn’t exist against a playoff-caliber defense.

• After an early adjustment, the 76ers failed to communicate on flare screens and staggers, leaving White and Pritchard clean looks. Their closeout speed dropped noticeably in the second half, a likely fatigue effect from heavy minutes for the starters.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

This was the third meeting of the 2024–25 regular season. Boston’s win gave them a 2–1 series lead.

• The pattern holds: the home team has won each matchup. Boston’s offensive efficiency at home this season (121.3) is the league’s best, and Philly couldn’t overcome that environment.
• Embiid averaged 32.7 points across the three games, but the 76ers’ defense surrendered 113.3 points per game in the series, a full four points above their season average.

Advanced Statistical Insights

A deep look at assist-to-field-goal ratio and true shooting paints a clear picture. Boston posted a 68.3% assist rate versus Philadelphia’s 51.2%, directly correlating with the Celtics’ 8.5% higher true shooting percentage (58.1% vs. 53.6%). When a team generates 17.1 percentage points more assisted field goals, the quality of each shot improves dramatically—more catch-and-shoot threes, more rim attacks off the catch, fewer forced isolations.

The 76ers’ offensive rating in non-Embiid minutes was a ghastly 93.4, highlighting a systematic failure in secondary creation. Boston’s defensive rating when Tatum sat actually improved to 102.8, showing the Celtics’ depth could sustain defensive integrity without their star. Additionally, Boston’s effective field goal percentage of 56.5% (boosted by threes) versus Philadelphia’s 51.6% represents a gap that wins nine out of ten NBA games.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for Boston

• The victory strengthens their grip on the Eastern Conference’s top seed and proves they can beat an elite big-man-centric team without relying purely on three-point variance. Defensive versatility against Embiid—throwing bodies, switching non-Embiid actions—will be a blueprint for playoff series.
• Boston’s bench scoring reliability (24 points on 9-of-17 shooting) gives them a margin that contenders often lack. If Pritchard and Hauser can consistently deliver in high-leverage games, the Celtics become nearly impossible to defend for 48 minutes.
• The late-game execution—four straight possessions with a bucket or free throws after the lead was cut to six—signals a maturing closing mentality.

What This Means for Philadelphia

• The 76ers’ blueprint against elite teams is too Embiid-reliant. The 64-point output from their two stars was elite; the surrounding production was bottom-ten quality. They must find a consistent third scorer—whether via a deadline move or internal development—to avoid second-half scoring collapses.
• Turnovers against aggressive switching defenses are a recurring problem. The 15 giveaways extended a trend of 14.9 per game in losses versus 11.2 in wins.
• Philadelphia’s inability to generate free throws outside Embiid puts a ceiling on their half-court efficiency. Opponents will continue to play them physically on the perimeter, knowing only Embiid reliably draws fouls.

Key Lessons

• Assisted field goals beat isolation scoring in high-stakes matchups; Boston’s movement created 6.2 more assisted buckets.
• Switching defenses that pre-rotate can neutralize a dominant post scorer if the surrounding shooters go cold.
• Rebounding margin (44–40 Boston) may seem small, but a few extra possessions via offensive boards directly yielded second-chance threes.
• Free throw differential often mirrors aggression and defensive discipline; Boston attempted 12 more free throws and was the more physical team.
• Role players on the road must hit open shots; Philly’s bench shooting 3-of-14 erased the starters’ work.
• Late-game poise at the line separates good teams from great ones—Boston shot 91.7% in the fourth quarter from the stripe.

FAQ

Who won the 76ers vs Celtics game on March 12, 2025?

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 118–109 at TD Garden.

What were Joel Embiid’s stats in the 76ers vs Celtics match?

Joel Embiid posted 38 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks on 14-of-22 shooting from the field.

How many points did Jayson Tatum score against the 76ers?

Jayson Tatum scored 34 points along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists, leading Boston in both scoring and assists.

Which team had the better three-point percentage?

The Celtics shot 38.9% from beyond the arc (14-of-36), compared to the 76ers’ 35.3% (12-of-34).

What were Tyrese Maxey’s full stats?

Tyrese Maxey finished with 26 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals, knocking down 4-of-8 three-point attempts.

How did Boston’s bench perform in the 76ers vs Celtics match player stats?

Boston’s reserves contributed 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, outscoring Philadelphia’s bench by 16 points.

Final analysis: The detailed 76ers vs celtics match player stats reveal a game separated not by star power but by ball movement, bench scoring, and defensive execution in the second half. Embiid and Maxey delivered All-Star numbers, yet Boston’s shared creation—led by Tatum’s all-around performance and a stingy switch-heavy scheme—turned a tight contest into a comfortable win. When the supplementary pieces and system outshine isolation heavy lifting, the box score tells a story that raw points can’t capture. That story, written through every assist, steal, and timely stop, is why the Celtics walked off with a victory that feels more decisive than the scoreline suggests.