The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series on Sunday.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in his first playoff game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon last season.
Jaylen Brown dropped 26 points, while Neemias Queta added 13 for the second-seeded Celtics.
The Celtics never trailed after building a 35-point lead as coach Joe Mazzulla gave minutes to 12 players and converted 16 triples.
On the other hand, Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 21 points and eight assists, while Paul George scored 17 points and V.J. Edgecombe added 13.
Philadelphia was 4 of 23 from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid is still sidelined as he recovers from an appendectomy on April 9, and his return is not certain.
Maxey was stopped by a Celtics defense that contested 12 of his 14 shot attempts in the first half, holding him to 8 of 20 from the field.
The 76ers’ 64-46 halftime deficit was its largest in a playoff against the Celtics since 1982.
Tatum dropped 10 first-quarter points, punctuated with an emphatic two-handed dunk, to help the Celtics end the period with a 33-18 lead.
Philadelphia struggled to keep up with Boston’s shooting, making only one of its first nine attempts from deep.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Boston.
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