Apr 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse observes the first half of play against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
CAMDEN, N.J. -- On the surface, and probably way, way below it, the two games of the best-of-7 series between the Sixers and Boston Celtics couldn't have been more different.
In Sunday's first game, the Celtics did whatever and got to wherever the wanted to on the basketball court, made 12 more three-pointers than the Sixers and outscored them by 42-13 total in points off turnovers and fast break points in what turned into a 123-91 win.
Game 2 had the Sixers make 19 of their 39 threes, while the Celtics sank just 13 of their 50, and saw VJ Edgecombe (30) and Tyrese Maxey (29) combine for 59 points in a 111-97 win.
Night and day.
However, the results weren't surprising at all to Sixers coach Nick Nurse, he admitted after the team went through their workout in preparation of Game 3 which will be Friday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
"I'm not totally shocked in either game," he said. "I wasn't shocked after Game 1. I certainly wasn't hoping or expecting that but I wasn't shocked and I wasn't shocked after Game 2. I think both those scenarios were possible."
And that's why the film sessions, both up in Boston after Sunday's loss and here after Tuesday's win, have been so long and detailed. In Nurse's eyes, it is a series that can change with the slightest of tinkering either at the offensive end of the floor and when trying to stop the Celtics' perimeter-dominant offense.
Nick Nurse explains the differences in team performance between Game 1 and Game 2. | @TheOceanAC pic.twitter.com/15H27RXNIl
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 22, 2026
"We played really bad in Game 1 and we played really good in Game 2," he said. "The series is, maybe the truth is, probably somewhere in the middle. That's why we've got five more games or whatever or how ever many game it is. I think we understand we played really, really well and we're going to have to play really, really well to beat these guys any night. That's what we learned.
"I think that whether it's a playoff series or not, I think you try to give the answers to what we're seeing. Anytime of the year when the team's in 'drop' (giving up outside shots and protecting the lane) this is our plan for it. And then they come up, here's the plan for that. They blitz, here's the plan for that. They switch, here's the plan for that. If they send you away from the screen, here's the plan. That's about half of the things that could happen. Again, it's part of formation or formulation of offensive attack. You've got to be ready for whatever they throw at you."
Tuesday, the Sixers threw plenty of Edgecombe and Maxey at the Celtics and they couldn't catch them. They were the difference in what was a surprising win, despite what Nurse says. The play of Maxey, which also included nine assists, didn't surprise Edgecombe, though.
"I set my expectations for Tyrese really high and he ain't pleased me at all," the rookie said. "I've seen him do that before. I'm super happy to be playing along side him. He's been a great leader for us."
Friday the Sixers hope they have the answers for whatever adjustments the Celtics may come up with. While Boston is no doubt implementing a plan to pay more attention to the Sixers' backcourt.
"That's the beautiful part about this, every game takes on its own story and we've seen two drastically different ones for both teams, I would say in each game," Nurse said. "And tomorrow we're all going to have to turn up and see what story this one takes tomorrow."
The Sixers announced that Joel Embiid, who had emergency appendectomy surgery on April 9, partially participated with the team on Thursday in on-court activities.
The team also announced that he is continuing his own on- and off-court workouts in an attempt to get back to game action.
It is to be noted that coach Nick Nurse said the team basically did little more than a walkthrough in preparation for Friday's Game 3.
"I think there's work being done."
Nick Nurse says Joel Embiid needs to continue working to get back on the court. pic.twitter.com/z6sExW4rmJ
"About like what you think," said Nurse of Embiid's progress. "Sometimes it's positive, sometimes it's not so. There's work being done and I think he's got to do it and do more and get some reactions to this and that. We'll know more probably by the end of today, where he is. Again, it's kind of like the work increases a little bit and then we have to see how he comes out of that stuff. Obviously, we're really hopeful and I think he's really hopeful that he wants to play and we want him to play. I don't know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there's some progress being made. Let's hope it keeps going that way."
After Friday, the teams will meet on Sunday for Game 4. The Celtics will host Game 5 on Tuesday before the series moves back to Philadelphia on Thursday, April 30 for Game 6, if necessary. A Game 7, also if necessary, would be played in Boston on Saturday, May 2.
