It was a statement win for the Philadelphia 76erswho stormed the TD Garden behind a Joel Embiid performance that looked closer and closer to full strength, dominating for all 48 minutes. Head coach Nick Nurse shortened the rotation, keeping all bench players – except Quentin Grimes who led the team in plus-minus alongside Paul George – under ten minutes of playing time.
The decision paid off, as the starters found their rhythm and flipped the game in the second half.
Welcome back Joel Embiid: MVP-level and leadership
After flashes of brilliance mixed with defensive lapses in Game 4, the Cameroonian big man showed a renewed feel for the game, aided by improved physical condition. The Embiid who was chased down and blocked in transition by Derrick White three nights ago gave way to an inspired post-up scorer and a lethal mid-range weapon.
The perimeter shooting of Edgecombe and Grimes also allowed him to avoid forcing shots from deep after early misses: he finished 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, but the team still found ways to compensate. His first win since returning to the NBA Playoffs not only keeps Philadelphia’s hopes alive but also brings him a sense of relief.
The emergency surgery for appendicitis had an entire city – and Embiid himself – holding its breath. Now that chapter is behind him, the 2023 NBA MVP has a new goal: win the series and keep the 2026 NBA Playoffs run alive.
Boston’s celebration postponed: Jayson Tatum and Charles Barkley analysis
Game 5 carried its risks, but the Boston Celtics were clear favorites. The fourth quarter collapse, however, is hard to explain solely through Philadelphia’s defensive performance.
Boston lost its edge from beyond the arc and relied on forced attempts from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown without real alternatives. The result was a brutal 0-for-14 stretch over the final seven minutes – an all-time postseason low since 2005 – that sank the Celtics and completely reopened the series.
JT didn’t offer much explanation for the offensive blackout:
He also praised Embiid:
The impression left on Charles Barkleyhowever, was far more blunt:
Game 6, regardless of the tactical adjustments on Boston’s agenda, promises fireworks: on one side, the desire for redemption after a humbling night; on the other, a chance to make history by becoming just the 14th team ever to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series.
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