With March Madness underway, the timing of the 76ers’ (47-25) triumph over the Boston Celtics (43-29) is something certainly worth talking about.
Joel Embiid scored 37 points including 20 free throws, and Jimmy Butler iced the game in a moment that was immortalized overnight.
Here’s what was said postgame...
After falling to Boston in their first three meetings this season, the Sixers overcame their divisional rival, 118-115, behind double-figure performances from all five starters. Ben Simmons (13 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast) discussed the immediate impact of the win:
Embiid racked up 37 points, 22 rebounds, and four assists in the win, playing a dominant role in overcoming a 15-point deficit. Brett Brown talked about the big man’s even bigger game:
Flexing his late-game muscle once again, Jimmy Butler (22 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast) hit two 3-pointers to tie the game late in the fourth frame, plus the now-iconic 2-point jumper to put the contest away. Embiid praised his teammate’s performance:
Although Butler wasn’t part of last season’s playoff series against Boston, he understood the greater significance this contest held:
While Embiid played the leading role throughout the contest, Butler and Tobias Harris (21 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast) rose to the occasion when the team needed them down the stretch. Brown complimented the duo:
The Sixers will seek their seventh consecutive victory Saturday in Atlanta.