In Game 5, Joel Embiid had a turn. To grab a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the 76ers centre led Philadelphia to a 115-103 Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. The 76ers’ home finale in Game 6 was ensured by their victory in Boston.
.@JoelEmbiid is a SG in a center’s body. pic.twitter.com/gFsmyjwzjZ
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 10, 2023
Embiid scored against a Celtics club that lacked answers to stop the league MVP from scoring from inside, outside, and at the free throw line. Tyrese Maxey destroyed the Celtics defence from outside the paint as the offence flowed via Embiid. While losing for the second time at home in this series, Boston laboured on the field.
Embiid and Maxey drive the 76ers’ offence.
Philadelphia jumped out to an early 33-26 lead thanks to Embiid’s 11-point first quarter performance. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum started out on the field slowly once more. All five of the All-Stars’ first-quarter field goal attempts were missed. His only points in the first quarter came from two free throws.
took care of business. 💼 pic.twitter.com/9i1jE3zW0e
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 10, 2023
The 76ers kept up their strong play in the second, opening the period with a 7-0 run thanks to two Harden jump shots. Due to 76ers errors, notably a Harden foul on Derrick White on a 3-point attempt, the Celtics were able to close the gap to 40-26. Tatum made his first field goal with 5:48 remaining in the second quarter before scoring 11 of Boston’s final 12 points to end the frame. He did a large portion of his damage at the foul line, where he made 8 of 9 first-half tries.
game 5 is ours.
🪙 @cryptocom pic.twitter.com/pmiyVXKo3Q
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 10, 2023
At halftime, Embiid led the 76ers with 21 points. Thanks in part to a 20-13 advantage in free throw attempts, Boston managed to stay within striking distance despite trailing 58-49 at the break. But it failed to take advantage of that with a third-quarter run.
After the break, the 76ers kept up their momentum, leading 30-23 at the end of the third period. A few boos from the Boston crowd were heard after a Maxey floater with 29 seconds left increased Philadelphia’s lead to 88-69.
With a late, chase-down block, Embiid ends the game.
Tatum overcame his early field goal problems, and Boston briefly fought back in the fourth with a 9-4 run to trim its deficit to 92-81. However, Maxey responded with a pull-up 3-pointer, and then Embiid made his third 3-pointer of the contest to push the 76ers lead to 17 points.
https://t.co/5JvYz62BAf pic.twitter.com/E0eIkPXv8T
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 10, 2023
However, it was Embiid’s defence that declared the contest over. Boston’s Jaylen Brown converted a 76ers turnover into a fast-break layup attempt with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Philadelphia’s lead would have been reduced to 13 points with a basket. To block Brown’s attempt at the basket, Embiid pursued him down in transition, though.
This was Embiid’s fourth-game high for blocks.
With 3:55 left, the Celtics raised the white flag as head coach Joe Mazzulla emptied the bench with the 76ers leading 113-92. Despite a 9-0 surge from Boston’s reserves, it was too little, too late.
33 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 blocks were all that Embiid had left after the game. He made 10 of his 23 field goals, including 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. Out of his eleven free throw attempts, he made 10 of them. Maxey had a 6-of-12 shooting night from beyond the arc while scoring 30 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists. His buckets frequently stopped the Celtics’ advances.
that best friend connection. 🤞
cc: @DeAnthonyMelton, @TyreseMaxey pic.twitter.com/xhmZkhtKMC
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 10, 2023
Tobias Harris scored 16 points, while Harden added 17 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds.
shooting in Boston that was brutal
After a sluggish start, Tatum came back to score a game-high 36 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 11 of 27 from the floor. Marcus Smart scored 14 points and had six rebounds in addition to Brown’s 24. Other Boston players failed to reach double digits.
do ya thing 21. pic.twitter.com/0ja3sRSDoy
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 10, 2023
Al Horford failed on all seven of his field goal attempts, all of which were 3-pointers, resulting in a scoreless performance. Derrick White scored 7 points, pulled down 5 rebounds, and made just 2 of 6 field goal attempts.
Boston had a team field goal percentage of 39.8% and a long-range percentage of 12 of 38 (31.6%). Philadelphia held a 49-36 lead in rebounds while shooting 50.6% from the field and making 12 of 30 (30.6%) 3-pointers.
As the 76ers try to secure a trip to the Eastern Conference finals, the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Thursday.