Sixers at Celtics: Jayson Tatum scores 51 points, Sixers suffer dismal Game 7

BOSTON — The Sixers could not break through Sunday afternoon. They weren’t especially close either. 

The Celtics rolled past the Sixers in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series, earning a 112-88 victory at TD Garden. They’ll play the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals for a second consecutive year. 

Again, the Sixers failed to advance beyond Round 2 of the playoffs. They haven’t done so since 2001. 

Jayson Tatum lit the Sixers up for 51 points, the most ever in an NBA Game 7. Jaylen Brown added 25.

Tobias Harris posted 19 points and Tyrese Maxey had 17.

Joel Embiid scored 15 points on 5-for-18 shooting. James Harden recorded nine points on 3-for-11 shooting, seven assists and five turnovers. 

Here are observations on the Sixers’ blowout Game 7 defeat: 

An ideal Tucker start 

Both teams stuck with the same starters as in Game 6.

Initially, it appeared Boston’s double-big lineup would replicate its success from Thursday right away. The Sixers began 1 for 6 from the floor, kept missing open jumpers, and paid for a couple of early defensive breakdowns. Tatum threw down a dunk on his first field-goal attempt, avoiding a fourth straight nightmare start offensively, and a Robert Williams III slam put the Celtics up 8-2. 

Thanks largely to P.J. Tucker, the Sixers summoned a strong response. Tucker scored eight points during a 13-2 Sixers run with two corner threes and a layup created by a savvy, surprising cut late in the shot clock. In Game 6, the Celtics made it obvious that they valued having Williams in the paint and weren’t too worried about Tucker taking threes. The 38-year-old forward needed to be decisive, confident and productive early against that approach. He got the job done. 

Tucker finished the first quarter with 11 points, which was the second most he scored in an entire game during the regular season.

Tatum shines brightest

The Sixers managed to outscore the Celtics by three points in their first stint without Embiid.

De’Anthony Melton was excellent late in the first and early in the second quarter. He swatted two shots, scored a put-back and driving layup, and helped the Sixers in transition on both ends of the floor. The Sixers posted the afternoon’s first seven fast-break points. 

However, as soon as the Sixers took a 35-26 lead, Boston answered with a 9-0 run. Neither of the Sixers’ stars were good during that stretch; Harden opened 1 for 6 from the floor, Embiid 3 for 11. Harden also picked up a Flagrant 1 foul for hitting Brown in the face with his right arm as the Sixers point guard rose for a driving layup attempt. Following that play, the game generally seemed to turn a touch nastier and more intense. Tatum and Brown were effective aggressors, too. Tatum mixed things up very nicely on his drives, including a spin move and lefty layup that lifted Boston to a 42-39 edge. 

To close the first half, the Sixers were determined to get Embiid touches on…