The Philadelphia 76ers refused to let their season end on Tuesday night, as Joel Embiid delivered a standout performance to spark a thrilling comeback win.
Embiid poured in 33 points, including a game-changing 18 after halftime, to lift the 76ers to a 113-97 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5. The win trims Boston’s series lead to 3-2 and sends the matchup back to Philadelphia for Game 6.
Joel Embiid takes over, leads 76ers from 13 down in Game 5 to extend series vs. Celtics – Yahoo News Singapore
Boston had built a commanding 63-50 lead in the third quarter and looked poised to close out the series at home. But Embiid took over, attacking the paint effectively and exploiting defensive attention to fuel a decisive rally from the 13-point deficit.
The 76ers owned the fourth quarter, outscoring the Celtics 28-11 and quieting the TD Garden crowd. Boston called it a night with over two minutes left, up 109-95, as key players headed to the bench.
Celtics dominate as European stars push 76ers to the playoff brink – Eurohoops
Embiid Shines in All-Star Form During Limited Playoff Action
This marked just Embiid’s second appearance of the postseason after missing the first three games while recovering from an emergency appendectomy. He showed some rust in Game 4 but looked like his All-NBA self on Tuesday, finishing 12-of-23 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, while adding 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 block.
Despite an off night from beyond the arc (0-for-5), Embiid focused on interior scoring and playmaking. He briefly left the game late in the third after a knee collision but returned quickly to help close out the win.
Supporting Cast Steps Up as Celtics Cool Off
Tyrese Maxey contributed 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists for Philadelphia, while Paul George nearly notched a triple-double with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Quentin Grimes added 18 points off the bench, including strong three-point shooting.
The Celtics struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 11 of 39 threes (28 percent), and shot 40 percent overall from the field compared to Philadelphia’s 50 percent. Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the loss, with Jaylen Brown adding 22 points.
Game 6 is set for Thursday night in Philadelphia, with details on time and broadcast still to be confirmed. The 76ers have new life, and Embiid’s big night has everyone talking about what they can achieve next.