One night after a disappointing overtime loss to the 76ers, a game that left the Celtics frustrated and irritated, the team found its defensive stride. In man-to-man, in zone, against the pick and roll, the Celtics were exactly what they needed to be against a younger, fresher Philadelphia team.

As coach Doc Rivers put it after Saturday night’s 92-79 rout of the 76ers at TD Garden, “Our defense was why we won.”