According to Jayson Tatum, Joe Mazzulla challenged the Celtics at halftime, reminding the starters that he could bench them.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown played the entire second half as Boston fought back against a feisty Philadelphia squad that shot 46.9 percent from 3-point range without three usual starters including Joel Embiid and Paul George. Ultimately, Boston’s hot shooting and improved defensive intensity turned the game around after Mazzulla’s halftime speech.