Instant Replay: Celtics 116, Sixers 108

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BOX SCORE

BOSTON — Like they have done this season, the Sixers held their own late in the game against the Celtics.

And like they have done this season, the Celtics pulled away at home.

The Sixers and Celtics were tied 61 apiece at halftime. The Celtics pulled ahead by eight in the third quarter behind a 12-2 run. The Sixers responded in the fourth to take a one-point lead with 7:56 remaining off a putback dunk from Nerlens Noel.

Isaiah Thomas, as he is known to do, went into takeover mode during the fourth with seven straight Celtics points and 13 in the quarter. The Celtics held on for a 116-108 win.

The Sixers were without two players late in the game.

Robert Covington collided into the Celtics’ bench and went down to the floor late in the fourth quarter (see video). He walked off the court on his own but was holding the back of his head with both hands. Covington was diagnosed with a head contusion and did not return. 

With less than a minute to play, Gerald Henderson was issued double technicals and subsequently ejected. He argued a foul committed on Marcus Smart in which the Boston guard initiated contact trying to get open on an inbounds play.

Inside the box score
• Jahlil Okafor came in off the bench after missing the last two games (see story). He scored four points with four rebounds, two assists and three blocks in 17 minutes.

• Thomas led all players with 33 points. He added four rebounds and four assists.

• Smart added 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and eight steals for the Celtics.

• Dario Saric led the Sixers with another double-double (20 points and 11 rebounds). 

• Covington and Jae Crowder scored 18 points apiece. Covington scored all of his points during the first half on 7 of 7 shooting. He also grabbed nine boards. 

• Noel posted 16 points and seven rebounds in his hometown arena. 

• The Sixers outscored the Celtics, 62-42, in the paint. 

Looks are deceiving
Thomas reached the 20-point mark for the 40th straight game to tie Celtics legend John Havlicek for the franchise mark. 

The undersized All-Star point guard is much more than meets the eye to Brett Brown. 

“It’s not like you’re looking at LeBron (James) or somebody that’s tall and all cut up,” Brown said. “He’s very sort of unassuming when you just look at him on a court. Then all of a sudden you start studying him. His ability to control speeds … he really can get you off balance and create separation. Because he can shoot, now [that] lets him dance and get to the rim and take the hit and finish.”

Up next
The Sixers have wrapped their pre-All-Star schedule and head into the break. They will resume official basketball activities during the middle of next week and host the Wizards on Feb. 24, the day after the trade deadline. 

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