Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to within one win of a series triumph over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, scoring 33 points in a 115-103 road victory in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff duel.
Embiid delivered another towering performance that underscored his NBA Most Valuable Player status as the Sixers dominated from early in the first quarter to leave Boston’s TD Garden home crowd in stunned silence.
Who will win it all? Watch the NBA Playoffs and every game of the NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The result gives the third-seeded Sixers a 3-2 series lead, meaning they can advance to the conference finals with a win in game six on home court in Philadelphia on Thursday.
The Sixers will head into that game brimming with confidence after an assured display in game five that left second-seeded Boston’s postseason campaign hanging by a thread.
Embiid led the scoring — the third-straight game in which he’s chalked up 30+ points — in a superbly balanced Sixers offensive performance, with five players finishing in double figures.
Tyrese Maxey tormented the Celtics with 30 points, including six three-pointers, while point guard James Harden was a constant thorn in the side of the Celtics, finishing with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
“I thought Joel did a great job of shooting when he needed to shoot, and passing when he needed to pass,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said.
MORE COVERAGE
Rebuild or re-tool? Defending champs face crunch $40m call as ‘Last Dance’ on verge of implosion
‘LeBron who?’: Unlikely clutch hero puts Lakers ‘on his back’ as NBA champs on brink
Coach explains Ben Simmons’ omission … and other gaping hole in Boomers squad
“Our composure overall was good. You know they’re going to make shots, they’re going to make runs. That team is tough, and you’ve got to breathe through it. I thought our guys did that.” Rivers reserved special praise for the contribution of Harden.
“I thought James was a magician tonight. He called a perfect game. He was aggressive early on, when he needed to be aggressive. And then he got everybody else involved.”
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla was left ruing what he described as his team’s worst performance of the postseason.
“That was the first game of the playoffs where we didn’t play well,” Mazzulla said.
“We can’t lose perspective because the players have played some really good basketball. But that was our first really really bad game of the playoffs.
“Doesn’t come at necessarily the best time, but we just need to shift perspective and get ready for the next game.”
Boston never recovered after the Sixers pulled away to lead by 14 points in the second quarter.
Although the Celtics closed the deficit to nine points at half-time they were unable to apply sustained pressure.
The Sixers always found a way of responding to keep them at arm’s length throughout the second half, with Philadelphia leading by double digits for almost the entirety of the third and fourth quarters.
Boston’s scoring was led by a 36-point display from Jayson Tatum while Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points.
KD on brink of exit after Nuggets blowout
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets put themselves one win victory from the Western Conference Finals after a 118-102 win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday AEST.
Serbian star Nikola Jokic contributed 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in the 16-point triumph, which gave Denver a 3-2 lead in the seven-match playoffs series. It was Jokic tenth playoff triple-double, passing Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record among NBA centres.
Denver teammate Bruce Brown scored 25 points coming off the bench, sinking 13 of 27 from long range, while Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray contributed 19 points each.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said an improved defensive display had laid the foundation for his team’s emphatic win.
“We didn’t play any defense in the two games we lost in Phoenix,” Malone said.
“When we’re not running, and we’re not defending, we’re going nowhere.
“And that’s what we’ll have to do in game six if we’re going to close this series out.”
Suns superstar Kevin Durant, who mustered 26 points and 11 rebounds, was called for a technical foul after shoving Jokic late in a feisty sideline confrontation during the third quarter, which had been dominated by the top-seeded Nuggets.
“It was like nothing we’ve put on the floor this year from our standards,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.
“We stood still and didn’t move them around enough. I felt we were somewhat stagnant.
“We’ve got to meet the challenge with the physicality.”
The Suns will need to win game six in Phoenix on Friday to keep the playoff series alive. The home team has won every game of the series, with the potential decider set to take place in Denver.
The Nuggets boast this season’s best home record at 39-7, including 5-0 during the playoffs.