3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following Game 4 loss to Celtics
Here are the three biggest takeaways for the Philadelphia 76ers following their Game 4 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed Joel Embiid back to the floor after missing so much time due to an April 9 appendectomy, but it wasn't enough to even their Round 1 series with the Boston Celtics. The Sixers fell 128-96 as they had a miserable night at home to fall to a locked in Celtics team. Embiid had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his return while Tyrese Maxey had 22 points and and six assists, and Paul George added 16 and four rebounds.
Quentin Grimes had 12 points and six assists for Philadelphia off the bench. Here are the three biggest takeaways following the loss: Rebounding issues continue to be a problem Just as it was down the stretch of the Game 3 loss, rebounding was a problem from the jump in Game 4. The Celtics won the rebounding battle 15-5 in the first quarter with six of those 15 coming on the offensive glass.
It led to so many second-chance opportunities and Boston capitalized on its chances. Overall, the Celtics won the rebounding battle 51-30 as Philadelphia completely struggled in that department. The Sixers did not grab an offensive rebound until the 6:52 mark of the third quarter.
"Well, they were more aggressive, quicker," said coach Nick Nurse. "They wanted to chase them down more than we did. We just didn't seem like we could get bodies on them.