Celtics Crush 76ers in Game 4: Pritchard Shines, Embiid Returns

Celtics vs 76ers Game 4: Pritchard's 32 points sink Philly as Embiid's return falls flat in a 128-96 Boston win.

Boston Celtics Payton Pritchard shooting three-pointer against Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4

The Boston Celtics are just one win away from advancing in the NBA playoffs. On Sunday night, they delivered a dominant performance to crush the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 in Game 4.

This victory gives Boston a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

‎Payton Pritchard was the undeniable star of the night. Coming off the bench, he dropped a playoff career-high 32 points. He hit six three-pointers, providing instant scoring whenever the starters needed a rest.

‎Jayson Tatum also put on a show. He recorded 30 points and 11 assists, controlling the game with ease. Jaylen Brown added 20 points to the scoreboard, making the Celtics look incredibly balanced and dangerous.

‎All eyes before tip-off were on Joel Embiid. The Philadelphia star center made his return to the court after recovering from an appendectomy.

He fought hard, finishing with 26 points and 10 rebounds. However, his brave comeback was simply not enough to stop Boston.

‎The Celtics' shooting decided this game very early. They stormed to a 34-18 lead by the end of the first quarter. Boston never took their foot off the gas, controlling the pace from start to finish. Philadelphia never seriously threatened after that opening burst.

‎Boston's accuracy from the perimeter was remarkable. The team sunk 24 three-pointers. They shot 48.3 percent overall and an impressive 45.3 percent from deep. It was a clinical display of perimeter basketball.

‎Tyrese Maxey and Paul George had decent outings for the 76ers. Yet, they simply could not match Boston's overwhelming firepower. Every time Philadelphia tried to build momentum, the Celtics had an immediate answer.

‎The series now shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday night. The Celtics have a chance to close things out on their home court. For the 76ers, the focus is on survival. They need Embiid to stay healthy and the rest of the roster to play a much cleaner game.

‎Right now, Boston looks firmly in control. If they continue to shoot this well, Philadelphia will need a near-perfect performance just to force a Game 6.