Thursday, March 28, 2024
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NBA Playoffs Round 2 Game 6 Preview: Boston Celtics (2-3) at Philadelphia Sixers (3-2)

The Philadelphia 76ers are on the verge of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2001.

They just need one more victory.

The Sixers will look to eliminate the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Thursday in Philadelphia. The Sixers took a 3-2 series lead with a 115-103 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday in Boston.

Joel Embiid led the way 33 points despite nagging knee soreness, and Tyrese Maxey added 30.

That has been the problem for the Sixers since ’01. They just haven’t been able to get past the semifinal round, and this represents the best chance they’ve had.

The Sixers previously entered a Game 5 situation tied at 2-2 in 2019 when they suffered a 36-point loss to the Toronto Raptors, and last season when they fell by 35 to the Miami Heat. Now. they are in the driver’s seat.

The Sixers also received 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds from James Harden and an unexpected spark of 10 points and five rebounds from Danuel House Jr. in 15 minutes.

After squandering a 2-1 series lead, the Celtics now must find a way to come up with a huge victory to push the series back to Boston for Game 7 on Sunday.

Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with 36 points but shot 11-for-27 and Jaylen Brown added 24.

Al Horford missed all seven of his 3-point attempts, and Boston’s defense struggled in the second half.

If the Celtics hope to extend the series, it’s their defense that must improve.

The Celtics can take encouragement from the fact that they won Game 6 on the road last season against the Milwaukee Bucks and then captured the series in seven games.

While this situation is uncomfortable, Boston has this experience to draw on.

For the Celtics, it’s not about statistics anymore. It’s about doing what is necessary to win.

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