Yesterday, leading up to a pivotal Game 5 in Boston between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, we preached that the Sixers still hadn’t managed to put together a full team-effort over the first four games of the Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Typically, the basketball gods ignore our cries for help in the city of Philadelphia, but last night at the TD Garden, they delivered. 

The Sixers put the defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics on the brink of elimination, silencing the raucous crowd at TD Garden with a dominant 115-103 win to take a 3-2 series lead back to Philly. 

Joel Embiid notched his third straight playoff game scoring 30+ points as the NBA MVP dropped 33 last night on 10-of-23 shooting from the floor. Embiid also shot a clean 3-for-7 from three point range while connecting on 10-of-11 from the free throw line.

Defensively, Embiid had seven rebounds (three offensive) and four blocks, highlighted by an impressive chase-down block on Jaylen Brown late in the fourth quarter. 

Joel Embiid Chase Down Block on Jaylen Brown

Originally tweeted by Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) on May 10, 2023.

Embiid’s performance was expected and with each passing day, it appears that he and the Sixers are inching closer over the annual “injury bump” that creeps up come playoff time. 

James Harden, who has shown up in 2-of-4 games this series for the Sixers was locked in last night. The Beard scored 17 points on 4-of-8 from the floor with eight rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals. 

Harden to Embiid to Maxey

Originally tweeted by Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) on May 10, 2023.

Again, Harden was expected to do perform like that. We were all waiting on Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and someone on the Sixers’ bench to make a statement in this series and last night, they delivered. 

Tobias Harris was very efficient from the floor, shooting 7-of-10 for 16 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. 

Tyrese Maxey delivered a statement game, scoring 30 points on 10-of-21 shooting while drilling 6-of-12 attempts from three point range. 

TYRESE MAXEY: 30 PTS | 7 REB | 6-12 3FG

Originally tweeted by Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) on May 10, 2023.

Danuel House Jr played 15 minutes off the bench off the bench and was an incredible spark plug for the Sixers, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor while grabbing five rebounds. 

The Sixers led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter and carried a 17-point lead into the fourth. They squandered any type of run from the Celtics as Jayson Tatum scored 36 points but shot just 11-of-27 from the field. Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points and Boston as a whole shot just 12-of-38 from the three point line. 

3-2 Back to The Well

Yes. The campaign to call the Wells Fargo Center “The Well” continues.

Much like they did after Game 1 in Boston, the Sixers left the basketball court knowing very well that this series is far from over, even with a 3-2 lead and heading back to The Well tomorrow night for Game 6. 

Note: The Boston Celtics were in this position last year as well, falling behind 3-2 to the Milwaukee Bucks before winning the next two to advance to the NBA Finals. 

As for the Sixers, they will look to smother any thought of a series comeback by the Celtics and close things out before anyone even thinks about going back to Boston for Game 7. 

Game 6 tomorrow night.

The Sixers Are A Threat.

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Highlights: 📹 Sixers vs. Celtics | 05.09.23

Originally tweeted by Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) on May 10, 2023.

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