{"id":714325,"date":"2026-04-20T01:27:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T01:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714325\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T01:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T01:27:21","slug":"despite-foul-trouble-celtics-kept-control-of-the-boards-in-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714325\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite foul trouble, Celtics kept control of the boards in Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLocal News\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tThe Celtics kept Andre Drummond and Adem Bona from causing too much trouble on the glass.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\tJordan Walsh believes effort is key in winning the rebounding battle, and he and the Celtics offered plenty of that on Sunday. Danielle Parhizkaran\/The Boston Globe\t<\/p>\n

Although Neemias Queta and Nikola Vucevic each picked up three fouls in the first half, putting the Celtics in early foul trouble, Boston still controlled the boards during Sunday\u2019s 123-91 win against the 76ers.<\/p>\n

The Celtics out-rebounded the 76ers, 43-40, and kept Andre Drummond and Adem Bona from causing too much damage on the glass with Joel Embiid out recovering from an appendectomy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jayson Tatum<\/a> led the way with 11 rebounds, and Sam Hauser grabbed seven. None of the Celtics\u2019 big men played more than 18 minutes, but they made impactful plays that won\u2019t show up in the stat sheet.<\/p>\n

It was a team effort that didn\u2019t go overlooked by coach Joe Mazzulla<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought [Vucevic] was great tonight at the things we expected of him,\u201d Mazzulla said. \u201cHe took some open shots, but he protected the rim. He kept Drummond and Bona off the glass so that the other guys were responsible for getting rebounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t get credit when you keep your guy from getting it and someone else comes in and gets the rebound. So, at the end of the day, we\u2019ve got to do what we\u2019ve got to do to win using everybody that we can. He did a great job of that tonight, all the bigs did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vucevic said the Celtics\u2019 aggressiveness and ability to handle their opponents different skill-sets played a role in their success. The key is to hit first and not let Philadelphia get position to push under the basket.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s somewhat tricky when you go to help and get caught in between and they get a step on you. Bona is really active on the glass, he moves around a lot. He\u2019s bouncy,\u201d Vucevic said. \u201cDrummond is really strong, he uses more of his strength. [Dominick Barlow] is very active, he moves around a lot. It\u2019s just different looks with each guy and you just have to have your antennas up to where they are so you can move them off the spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes with a guy like Drummond, you kind of hold him off if you\u2019re in a bad position. The guards did a really good job tonight of coming and helping and grabbing the ball. If you can\u2019t grab it, just hold him off, release and they come in and help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rebounding was a weakness for the Celtics at the beginning of the season, but they finished No. 3 in rebounds per game during the regular season. Reaching that level of success took an attitude adjustment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI honestly think it\u2019s just a mentality and an effort thing,\u201d guard Jordan Walsh said at practice on Saturday. \u201cJust a \u2018want to.\u2019 That was something we were struggling with and we finished the regular-season as a much better rebounding team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it was a personnel change or anything, it was just a willingness and a commitment to do it over and over again consistently as hard as possible until we got the result that we wanted. I think that\u2019s where it came from. Everybody played their part to earn minutes or earn a role and I think that\u2019s what made the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charged up<\/p>\n

Hauser took the first charge of his five-year career in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Bona leapt towards the rim, taking off a step inside the free-throw line and crashing into Hauser.<\/p>\n

Hauser said colliding with the 6-foot-10-inch, 235-pound 76ers center was not a pleasant experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was scared,\u201d Hauser said. \u201cThat\u2019s a big dude. Just stepping in there and trying to make a play. It wasn\u2019t my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queta misses out<\/p>\n

The NBA announced three finalists for the league\u2019s most improved player award: Detroit\u2019s Jalen Duren, Portland\u2019s Deni Avidja, and Atlanta\u2019s Nickiel Alexander-Walker.<\/p>\n

Celtics players and Mazzulla have been saying for weeks that they believed Queta deserved to win the award<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Queta had six career starts before this season. He made 75 after Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet departed in the offseason. He averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, doubling his averages in both categories from last year. He tied Derrick White<\/a> for the team lead in blocks with 1.3 per game.<\/p>\n

The Celtics also were left out of the finalists<\/a> for Defensive Player of the Year, Clutch Player, Most Valuable Player, and Rookie of the Year. Mazzulla was announced as a finalist for Coach of the Year Sunday night.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\t\tKhari A. Thompson<\/a>Sports Reporter\t<\/p>\n

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston.com Tonight<\/p>\n

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