Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center was the stage for a physically intense and tightly contested Game 3 of the first-round NBA playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. Despite moments when the Sixers appeared poised to seize momentum and shift the series, the Celtics demonstrated resilience and composure to pull out a 108-100 victory, taking a 2-1 lead and regaining home-court advantage.

Boston’s forward Jaylen Brown emphasized the team’s collective toughness in the face of adversity. “Most importantly, just stay together through the adversity,” Brown said. “But you get hit, you’ve got to hit back.” On the night, the Celtics absorbed several physical blows, including Derrick White suffering a neck injury in a collision with Philadelphia’s Adem Bona and Neemias Queta receiving an elbow to the face from Andre Drummond. Despite these challenges, Boston refused to relent.

Key to the Celtics’ fourth-quarter surge were Brown and Jayson Tatum, who combined to convert seven of nine shots in the final stanza. Both players finished with 25 points each, with Tatum’s critical three-pointer in the final 25 seconds effectively sealing the outcome. Coach Joe Mazzulla lauded his team’s competitive spirit and mental fortitude in navigating the intensity of playoff basketball. “A series is going to take on a life of its own. You have to just sit in it,” Mazzulla said. “You can’t rush for it to be over. You have to just go in and settle in, and that’s physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

Derrick White, despite struggling offensively—shooting 3-for-12 overall and 1-for-8 from three-point range during the game, and 5-for-25 from beyond the arc in the series—delivered a pivotal offensive rebound that set up Tatum’s decisive three-pointer. Postgame, White acknowledged the difficulty of his shooting slump but expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from teammates and staff. “Everybody here has got my back, so I got a lot of love and I’m thankful,” White said. “It’s my job to go out there and help us win. If it’s not shooting, it’s got to be everything else.”

Both Mazzulla and Tatum underscored White’s importance to the team beyond scoring, with Mazzulla challenging any doubts about White’s value. “Anyone who doubts Derrick White must not care about winning,” the coach said. Tatum reiterated multiple times that the Celtics need White’s contributions.

Boston’s ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities, scoring 22 points on offensive rebounds, along with making 20 of 47 three-point attempts, helped offset a costly 17 turnovers and powered their comeback against a determined 76ers squad. The series will resume Sunday night back in Boston for Game 4, with both teams looking to assert control moving forward.