76ers fall to Celtics, lose 9 of last 10

If you look at the box score, there are some stats that would normally indicate the 76ers played a good game.

The 76ers had 7 players in double figures scoring for the first time this season, including all 5 starters. They collected 18 offensive rebounds, which is a good figure even when you consider they missed nearly 60 attempts. They scored 64 points in the paint over the Celtics 38, and they forced the Celtics into 22 turnovers

But they got outscored by 18 points from the three point line to one of the worst shooting teams in the league (27th in makes, 26th in percentage), which ultimately spelled their doom. Combine that with giving up 12 offensive rebounds, including 8 first half offensive rebounds, to one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the league, and you Sixer a game all up.

Which ultimately is a good thing.

"Their three point shooting was really the difference," Collins said after the game. "We were minus-18 at the three point line."

While all 5 starters scored in double figures, few did so efficiently. Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, and Jrue Holiday shot a combined 21-56 for their 55 points.

On the positive side, Doug Collins made good on his promise to play rookie Arnett Moultrie more. Moultrie played just under 20 minutes, the most minutes he has received in a competitive game. Moultrie responded with 10 points on 5-5 from the field to go along with 3 offensive rebounds. Moultrie has made his last 12 field goal attempts.

"Arnett, once again, played a really good game for us," Collins said of the rookie. "It's encouraging to see him growing."

"At this point I'm a lot more comfortable," Moultrie followed up with. "I think coach [Collins] is comfortable with me as well. So as long as he is comfortable, I'm comfortable."

"The main thing [Collins wants] is to rebound the basketball and roll to the basket when I set picks for Jrue [Holiday] and Evan [Turner]."

Both Collins and Moultrie talked about how much the ankle injury Moultrie suffered before the draft set him back.

"It set me back a lot," Moultrie said. "I wasn't able to do anything for like 4 months. I'm definitely 100% [now]."

The 76ers tough end of the season schedule continues, as they travel to Atlanta for a back to back tomorrow night. They'll play their next 3 games on the road, and will play 12 of their final 16 games on the road to end the season. The 76ers are just 6-20 on the road this season.

Statistical Oddities

• Coming into the game, Kevin Garnett was shooting 80% from the field in his previous 3 games against the 76ers when Spencer Hawes was on the floor.
• Thaddeus Young had his 15th double-double of the season. He had only 1 last year.
• The 76ers have scored over 100 points in two of the last games after not scoring more than 93 in the 12 previous games.
• Boston is 27th in the league in three pointers made, but made 11 of 19 tonight.
• Boston is 29th in the league in offensive rebounding %, but collected 8 first half offensive rebounds.
• Arnett Moultrie has made his last 12 field goal attempts. Over that same stretch, Spencer Hawes has gone 20-50.