Trailing the winless 76ers, 77-68, with 6 minutes to go, Brad Stevens changed the complexion of the game by using a small-ball lineup. A squad of Isaiah Thomas, Evan Turner, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Jared Sullinger then roasted the Sixers with a ferocious 16-3 run, to seize an 84-80 win for the Celtics.
Stevens said the decision to go small occurred at halftime, when he started Turner over Crowder in the third quarter, knowing he'd bring Crowder off the bench as a 4.
"It was one of those decisions where I thought we would play small late," Stevens said.