3 observations after Sixers finish 0-2 back-to-back by falling to Celtics

3 observations after Sixers finish 0-2 back-to-back by falling to Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers ended their eight-game winning streak on Tuesday night and suffered their first losing streak of the season on Wednesday. They fell to a 117-107 loss at Wells Fargo Center to the Boston Celtics, dropping to 8-3 overall while Boston improved to 9-2. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey were the joint top scorers for the Sixers with 20 points each while the Celtics got 29 points from Jayson Tatum and 27 from Derrick White.

The Sixers were without Kelly Oubre Jr. (fractured rib) and Nicolas Batum (personal reasons), while Boston’s Jaylen Brown (non-COVID illness) and Kristaps Porzingis (right knee contusion) were sidelined.

Sixers’ head coach Nick Nurse revealed that Batum might join the team for its game Friday night in Atlanta and would be present in Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon when the Sixers visit the Nets.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ defeat Wednesday night:

Three-point volume central again

De’Anthony Melton drilled a corner three on the game’s first play while Tyrese Maxey had a slow scoring start and Al Horford played solid defense on Embiid. The Sixers entered Wednesday’s action 29th in the NBA in three-point frequency. The Celtics ranked second and ultimately gained a major advantage on threes, firing up 50 and sinking 18 while the Sixers got up 30 long-range shots, making 11.

Second-quarter Springer

The Sixers’ bench had a dreadful first stint but Jaden Springer made an immediate impact with a corner three and a steal in the backcourt. Thanks in part to Springer, the Sixers’ defensive activity surged in the second quarter.

Too many flaws for Sixers to overcome

Three Horford triples over the first 5:01 of the third lifted the Celtics, and the Sixers’ inability to exploit the Celtics’ swarming defense on Embiid hurt. White showed his All-Defensive chops vs. Maxey, and the Sixers’ stars had two unproductive possessions, proving costly.