With Joel Embiid being unavailable, Paul Reed was thrust into the starting role for the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.
He played pretty well, finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block, but it would appear he pissed off PJ Tucker at one point in the fourth quarter.
“What the f**k you talking about n****?”
https://twitter.com/phillywrld1/status/1653283465570275330
Tyrese Maxey revealed afterward that Tucker was incensed over the Celtics getting some offensive rebounds that led to an Al Horford layup. He wanted Reed to step up to the plate and ensure that it didn’t happen again. The Sixers had signed Tucker not only for his defense but also for his leadership and the toughness that he brings to the group.
To Reed’s credit, he didn’t buckle after Tucker went off at him and instead, made some big plays down the stretch to help the Sixers get the win. Tucker, meanwhile, had 0 points in the contest but he still managed to have a big impact on the game, with his energy and effort.
Can The Sixers Win Game 2 As Well Without Joel Embiid?
Even if Embiid was healthy, the Sixers would have been hoping to win one of the first two games in Boston, and they have managed to do that without him. It just puts them in a position now where they don’t have to take a risk at all by playing him on Wednesday.
That doesn’t mean they would punt the contest, though, as James Harden said, they are looking to win Game 2. Harden was the biggest reason they won the opener, finishing with 45 points and he stopped his teammates from celebrating afterward, as he knows the job is far from being finished. Harden is locked in at the moment and if he can deliver another masterpiece in Game 2, then the Sixers would have a chance at winning. You can expect a strong response from the Celtics, though, as they would be desperate to avoid falling down 0-2, as that would all but end the series.
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