Tim BontempsApr 28, 2026, 09:54 PM ETCloseTim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and what’s impacting it on and off the court, including trade deadline intel, expansion and his MVP Straw Polls. You can find Tim alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics: Game Highlights (1:33)Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics: Game Highlights (1:33)
Led by 33 points from Joel Embiid, 25 points and 10 rebounds from Tyrese Maxey and a stellar fourth quarter on defense that saw the Boston Celtics miss their final 14 shots, Philadelphia emerged with a 113-97 victory Tuesday in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference first-round series.
The Celtics were clinging to an 86-85 lead to start the fourth quarter and had 12 good minutes between them and winning at least one playoff series for the ninth time in the past 10 postseasons. But while 12 good minutes were played, it wasn’t by Boston.
Instead, it was the 76ers who outscored the Celtics 28-11 and held them to a dismal 3-for-22 shooting effort — including 1-for-14 from 2-point range. The 14 consecutive misses to close the game was the longest such streak in the playoffs since 2005, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
“But sometimes that happens. You know, it’s just tough. Not scoring the way you want to puts a lot of pressure on your defense, and they made some plays at the other end.”
That began with Embiid, who scored 18 of his points Tuesday in the second half on 7-for-10 shooting.
And he did it by beginning to wreak havoc in the paint. Per GeniusIQ, Embiid’s average shot distance in the first half was 16.5 feet, before dropping to 9.3 feet in the second half — numbers that also reflected him not taking a 3-pointer in the second half.
It was the second-largest decrease in a game in his career when he took at least 10 shots in each half. And going up against a Celtics team lacking in size — in particular, no longer having longtime nemesis Al Horford to lean on him in the paint — Embiid had his way with Boston as the game wore on.
76ers coach Nick Nurse cut his rotation to essentially six players, with Quentin Grimes giving Philadelphia an impressive 18 points in 24 minutes, as well as some excellent man-to-man defense. No other reserve played more than seven minutes. Embiid played just under 39 minutes, VJ Edgecombe just under 40, Maxey 42 and Paul George 43.
Time will tell if Philadelphia can withstand that sort of minutes load playing every other day at playoff intensity. But all that mattered Tuesday was that it was enough for the 76ers to give themselves another chance.
“It’ll take everything we’ve got,” Maxey said. “It’ll take even more of an effort than it did tonight.”
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics: Game Highlights (1:33)Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics: Game Highlights (1:33)
Tim BontempsApr 28, 2026, 09:54 PM ETCloseTim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and what’s impacting it on and off the court, including trade deadline intel, expansion and his MVP Straw Polls. You can find Tim alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseTim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and what’s impacting it on and off the court, including trade deadline intel, expansion and his MVP Straw Polls. You can find Tim alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast.Follow on X
BOSTON — The Philadelphia 76ers are down but not out.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics: Game Highlights (1:33)