The Philadelphia 76ers kept their season alive, cutting the series deficit to 3-2 with a 113-97 road win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night at TD Garden.
After back-to-back losses in Games 3 and 4, Philly flipped the script in Game 5 with a dominant fourth quarter. Joel Embiid led the charge with 33 points and eight assists, Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul George stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The trio has shared the floor for only 23 games this season, but performances like Tuesday night’s highlight just how dangerous they can be when all are healthy.
V.J. Edgecombe (10) and Quentin Grimes (18) also chipped in with double-digit scoring efforts.
It looked like Boston might take control after building a double-digit lead in the third, but the momentum flipped fast. The Celtics struggled from deep (28.2 percent) and managed just 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Jayson Tatum paced Boston with 24 points and 16 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown finished with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. No other starter scored more than eight.
Boston missed a chance to close it out at home and will now try to finish the job in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Here are some takeaways heading into Game 6.
Celtics offense goes dry
The Celtics have done this before. The current core hasn’t always been sharp with chances to close a series, especially at home. Remember what Trae Young did to them in a similar situation in 2023?
This time, it was Embiid, Maxey, George and Grimes playing the role of Young. After taking a 13-point lead, the Boston offense went dry. The Celtics forced a bunch of difficult shots as the 76ers produced good ones. Sam Hauser drained a couple of key fourth-quarter 3-pointers, but then fouled Grimes on a 3-pointer to let the 76ers go ahead by five points.
The Celtics were in danger then. It only got worse for them as they scored 10 points over the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. They had some opportunities to pull even midway through the fourth quarter, but Hauser, Tatum and Derrick White all missed 3-pointers that would have tied the game. Then, Boston was diced up by Embiid for a stretch that essentially ended the game.
It was another missed opportunity for the Celtics, who could regret failing to close out the series in five games even if they eventually beat the 76ers. They had an opportunity to give themselves some rest while the rest of the Eastern Conference finished the first round. Instead, Boston must go on the road for a pivotal Game 6. — Jay King, Celtics beat writer
Sixers save their season
Sometimes, one player, with a simple substitution, can change the direction of a playoff series.
Grimes has been a forgotten man for the Philadelphia 76ers. On Tuesday night, in a Game 5 the Sixers had to win, Grimes arguably saved the season. Yes, Embiid and Maxey were both sensational. But Grimes came off the bench and scored 18 points, including big shot after big shot. It was a clutch performance for a Sixers team that hasn’t had such a performance off the bench for the entirety of the series.
Just as importantly, Embiid’s presence was felt in Game 5. He stopped taking jumpers and parked himself in the paint and consistently bullied his way to the basket. Philadelphia has shown this kind of heart all season. They did it one more time with their season on the line.
Now, the series shifts back to Philadelphia for Thursday night’s Game 6. The Sixers are still a long shot to win the series. But they have given themselves a chance, and that’s all that can be asked. Now, the question is whether they can finally figure out a way to win a home game. — Tony Jones, Sixers beat writer
