It started with a contested 3-pointer over Joel Embiid in the corner with 4:14 to play, which gave the Celtics the lead - for good, as it turned out. Then, all of a sudden, he flipped a switch. As the clock ticked under five minutes, he was 1-of-14 from the field and on the verge of ruining his reputation with one of the worst elimination game performances from a star in recent memory. But he didn't look like that type of player for 43 minutes on Thursday night. In the past week, Jayson Tatum added a fourth-place MVP finish and a second consecutive All-NBA First Team appearance to his resume. Here are some key takeaways from the game: Tatum saves his reputation Now, they'll have to head back to Boston and win a Game 7 on the road if they want to get back to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001. They shot 36.1 percent from the field and went 8-of-34 from 3-point land. The Sixers, much like the Celtics in Game 5, picked a bad time for a brutal offensive showing. Marcus Smart, in particular, delivered with 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. The good news for him was he got plenty of help to keep the Celtics in the game until he showed up. Tatum finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists on 5-of-21 from the field in one of the strangest games we've ever seen from a star. The had only made one shot entering the final five minutes, but drained four 3-pointers down the stretch to help the Celtics pull away for good. Neither team seemed all that interested in winning the game, and they traded missed shots and turnovers for the majority of the frame. The Sixers surged back into the game late in the second quarter, then took a slight lead heading into the fourth, which set up a fascinating finish.Īs it turned out, the final 12 minutes were some of the worst basketball we've seen all postseason. They pushed the advantage to as much as 16 in the second quarter, but were unable to hold on to it for very long. With their backs against the wall, the Celtics came out with all sorts of intensity on both sides of the ball, and had a double-digit lead after just a few minutes. The action will now shift back to Boston for a win-or-go-home showdown on Sunday. It wasn't easy, and it certainly wasn't pretty, but the Celtics outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 on Thursday night, 95-86, to even the series at 3-3. It did result in tensions rising between familiar rivals.The Boston Celtics have forced a Game 7. The play didn't lead to a flagrant foul as officials appeared to deem the blow inadvertent. Tucker left him writhing in pain in the fourth quarter. He was also able to return for the game's final stretch after a low blow from P.J. Philadelphia struggled to defend him on the interior or from outside as he shot 14 of 25 from the field and 4 of 5 from distance. Tatum challenged Harden for top billing while tallying 39 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. ![]() The Celtics cooled off from their hot start, but still shot 58.7% from the field while hitting 17-of-18 free-throw attempts (94.4%). Boston's offensive stats look like those of a winner. ![]() Tobias Harris scored 18 points while shooting 8 of 16 from the field, as Paul Reed posted 10 points and 13 rebounds while starting for Embiid.īut he was no substitute for Embiid, most notably on the defensive side of the court. ![]() Maxey finished with 26 points, while De'Anthony Melton added 17 points off the bench. He shot 17 of 30 from the floor, including 7 of 14 from beyond the 3-point arc. Harden finished with 45 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound and 2 steals.
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