Rozier fires Celtics as Sixers come up short

Terry Rozier scored 29 points as Boston outmuscled Philadelphia 117-101 to win the opening game of their Eastern Conference semi-final series on Monday.

Rozier was the top scorer in a dazzling Celtics offensive display at the TD Garden, with Al Horford and Jayson Tatum also making hefty contributions.

Horford finished with 26 points while Tatum added 28 points as Boston surged into a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with a statement victory.

Horford later praised Rozier’s superb contribution. “I’ve always seen that potential in Terry,” Horford said.

“It’s a great experience for him to come into a play-off game of this magnitude and have such a great game,” Horford added.

The third-seeded Sixers had advanced to the semi-finals after a confident demolition of Miami in the opening round. But the Celtics line-up look to be a vastly more challenging proposition for the Sixers, who saw Joel Embiid score 31 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.

JJ Redick had 20 points for the Sixers, while point guard Ben Simmons had 18 points from 41 minutes on the court.

Yet it was the shooting prowess of Celtics ace Rozier that caught the eye as the 24-year-old point guard kept Boston firmly on track for a well-earned win.

Boston, who advanced to the semi-finals after a gruelling seven-game series win over Milwaukee, have regrouped superbly after a slew of injuries.

Game two takes place in Boston tomorrow.