Georges Niang

Lauren Rosen

The 76ers (1-2) will look to get even with the Boston Celtics (2-1) Sunday in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal clash.

After splitting the first pair of matchups in Boston, the Sixers dropped Friday’s Game 3 at home, 114-102.

After receiving The Michael Jordan MVP Trophy pregame, Joel Embiid scored a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds.

On Boston’s side, Jayson Tatum scored a team-high 27 points, plus 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Jaylen Brown finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block.

All five Boston starters, along with Malcolm Brogdon (bench-high 15 pts), finished in double-figures.

“We’re going to go out there and compete extremely hard,” Tyrese Maxey said of Game 4 following Saturday’s film session. “I know every guy on this team - we’ve done it all year. We’ve been determined. When people [question us] we go out there and prove them wrong.”

“We understand that we need each other. This is a fight. We understand that we have to do it together. We’ve got to put a full game together.”

Both Sixers described Saturday’s film session as one filled with productive, honest dialogue.

“This is how it goes,” Harris said. “For us, it’s about figuring out how we can be at our best to get a victory tomorrow. We’ve just got to be ready to play, and come out there and play the right way.”

Embiid (right knee sprain) is questionable for Game 4, while Blake Griffin (low back pain) and Marcus Smart (left ankle sprain) are questionable for Boston Sunday, while Danilo Gallinari is out (left knee ACL repair).

Following Sunday’s matchup, the series shifts back to Boston for Tuesday’s Game 5.

Sunday’s matinee is a 3:30 p.m. ET tip.

Embiid notched a 30-point, 13-rebound double-double, plus three assists and a game-high four blocks. He shot 9-for-19 overall and 11-for-12 from the foul line.

Melton scored a bench-high 14 points, along with eight rebounds, a game-best four steals, and a block.

“Backbreaking is when you go home. It’s one game. Yeah, it would’ve been great to win at home and be up in the series. But, we’ve got to collect ourselves, get back to it and get ready for Game 4.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

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76ers Look to Even Series with Celtics | NBA Playoffs Gameday Report

Named MVP Finalist for the third straight year, with back-to-back scoring titles in tow, Joel Embiid has finally earned his first NBA Most Valuable Player award.

For the team as a unit, the 2022-23 season has always been, and continues to be, a “We Season.”

In their own words, here’s what Embiid has meant to that collective “we”:

“Joel has just been dominant. He came into training camp extremely focused. I think it’s the most focused, in my last three years, that I’ve seen him - and that’s saying something, because he’s had career years every year that I’ve been here. He’s stepped it up a notch. This year just seemed different. He’s extremely focused. And his leadership went to another level. I’ve always talked about what he’s done for me, and for a lot of different guys, as far as drawing in the defense, getting better at passing out of double teams, making his teammates better. He’s just been dominant - defensively, offensively, and leadership-wise.”

“I think what separates Joel is his ability to protect the rim on defense, and switch in real-life situations in the game, keep guys in front, and make them take tough shots. When he’s locked in on defense, he’s just that much better. And then his dominance on offense, literally being able to destroy everybody all year, I think it’s an easy decision. He’s the MVP for sure.&nbsp;

You just haven’t seen a big be able to dominate the way that he does, really shooting the ball - where it’s not back to the basket, it’s facing the basket. Really demanding a double every play. There just hasn’t been bigs like that in a long time. He’s one of one.

“I don’t think he necessarily did anything drastically different - I just think there’s more recognition towards his deserving of the award. As someone who’s been with [Joel for four years], to see the progression in his game, to see the progression in his leadership, and to see how hungry he is to win, and do whatever it takes to embrace all his teammates, I think that speaks volumes. He’s super deserving of it. I’m proud, I’m happy.

His game has just evolved, being an offensive specimen out there - somebody who can pick apart other teams’ defenses. He’s changed his game in a way that he’s become more and more unguardable, year after year offensively. And then on the defensive end as well - just doing amazing things to help the whole group.

“When I think about this award, I think about all the different things that MVP means. It doesn’t mean that you’re just great. It means that you’re great amongst all the great players that play in the NBA. That’s pretty special. It doesn’t just mean scoring the basketball. Obviously you have to do that, but you have to do so many more things. You have to rebound, you have to play defense, you have to be a great teammate, you have to make your teammates better, you have to work on your game, you have to be coachable, and you have to win. [Joel] is doing all those things for us.”

“Joel is the MVP because he’s a professional, first and foremost, how he carries himself. He doesn’t say too much, comes in, gets his work. In the game, he’s totally different. Joel is a monster. Unstoppable. 7-something, big dude, you can’t stop him. And he’s got a midrange game - what big guy can shoot the middy like that? And threes? And he can handle the ball? I don’t know.”

“The way he came out and just dominated. His style of play - he can score from the perimeter, he can catch on the elbow, shoot over defenders - even when he catches it on the block, he can just bruise, and get layups after layups. His ability to score at a high rate is really special at his size, too.”

“I mean everything. Everything is different for Joel. I’ve seen him grow as a player, as a man, as a human, and now he’s winning MVP, finally. He deserves it. I’m really happy for him, to see this growth. I’ve spent six years with him, so it means a lot also for me. I’m super, super happy about it. Congrats, Joel. He’s changed a lot. He talks more, and we can discover him more. He’s changed a lot, on the court and off the court.”

“He’s second to none. He’s one of one. And he continues to get better. We’re all finally witnessing Joel Embiid - who I think everybody thought he could potentially be, some years ago.”

“Welcome to the club, well-deserved. I’m so proud, [he] had a hell of a year. Should’ve gotten it last year too.”

“Man, it’s crazy. I feel like I’ve seen Joel perform at an MVP level for at least the past three years now. To see his growth this year, especially when it comes to trusting us teammates, and then just seeing him put in the work day in and day out, showing up every game ready to compete. Above all else, he wants to win. And I think that’s what really separates him.”

“Joel’s shown pure dominance this year. It’s his second consecutive year of averaging 30 points, and continuing to lead us to wins. When you have a center, in this day and age, when centers aren’t really used like Joel is used, and he can do that on a night in, night out basis, and still find ways to be effective - he’s clearly the Most Valuable Player.”

“Joel is an absolute bucket getter. I think the whole league knows that. Just giving him the ball and letting him go to work, every play, he’s dominating, every game. That’s MVP worthy. Not only does he dominate the game on the offensive end. Something I admire about his game is he puts his life on the line. He’ll go and try to block somebody from dunking the ball, and not be scared to get dunked on - things like that, I admire, because I’m also a big. I’ll be like, ‘Dang. He’s got heart.’ I feel like that’s MVP-worthy stuff right there.”

philadelphia-76ers-speak-on-embiid-mvp

Our MVP: Joel Embiid, in the Words of the 2022-23 Philadelphia 76ers

Matt Shanley

If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Your Philadelphia 76ers are ready for the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

playoff-mode

Playoff Mode

Matt Murphy

In a special miniseries from the 76ers Insiders podcast ahead of the 2022-23 NBA playoffs, Sixers players joined the show to help you get to know them better before the journey begins.The in-depth interviews cover a variety of topics ranging from their own sports fandom to how they want their careers to be remembered. Listen to the full episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts for more subjects, such as dream dinner guests.

Below are some excerpts from the conversations:

P.J. Tucker: “My wife’s second wedding ring. I designed it and went through this whole thing – yeah, it was a big deal. The first one was really modest because I was young. I was 23 or 24, so it was nice, but it wasn’t great. So the second one – ten years later – was a big deal in designing it and the whole process. She was almost crying when I gave it to her, after we had already been married for a long time. That was pretty cool.”

Paul Reed: “I got my mom a house. I think that’s my greatest gift so far.”

Shake Milton: “Maybe just like a little piece of art that kind of is like an inside joke, or something like that. I feel like I would say that, yeah.”

Most memorable sporting event you’ve been to as a fan?

Tyrese Maxey: “Last summer, I went to watch the first round of Serena [Williams] at the US Open. That was my first time at a tennis match ever in my life. For it to be so inspirational that I come home and I start playing tennis, and was actually sitting on my couch at 2 a.m. watching the [semifinals] – women’s and men’s – that’s like second-to-none. That’s amazing. That it can change somebody like that. I had never watched a tennis match ever in my life. I go to hers and watch one first round of the US Open, and now I’m watching tennis and going to play tennis on off days with Shake Milton and [76ers skill development coaches] Tyler Lashbrook and Spencer Rivers. That’s really cool.”

Georges Niang: “My senior year of college, I signed with an agency that was in LA and I got to go to Kobe Bryant’s last game. It was poetic. I think he shot 70 shots and every time he got the ball in the second half, it was like a pickup game. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

De’Anthony Melton: “It would have to be one of the USC [football] games. I remember first getting there, you get to do a little tailgate and they walk you through the school. I got to do that, walk through all of the students and stuff like that. Then go onto the field and see them dudes warm up. USC it’s like – it’s pros, so you’re seeing these dudes, they’re big, they’re ready. So it definitely had to be one of those USC games. Those were fun. Got to stand in the stands with the fans and students, do the cheers, all that.”

Reed: “I went to a WWE match recently and that was kinda lit, no cap. In Philly. I think that's the most memorable so far.”

Milton: “I remember when I was little, my pops used to take us to the Texas Longhorns games. So we went to one at Oklahoma State and in the second half, Vince Young came out and ran like 80 yards for a touchdown. That was really cool.”

What is something you think is misunderstood about you by the public?

Tucker: “I think, more times than not, they almost get everything wrong about me… I think I’ve done almost too good of a job of how I present my play and what I do on a night-in, night-out basis, rather than people really seeing the way I change the way I play based on who we play and what we need to be able to win.”

Maxey: “I’m a human being, so everybody struggles. Everybody goes through their moments, whether it’s behind closed doors or on the court. But, for the most part, this is who I am. I don’t smile because it’s fake. I smile because I really enjoy being out there, competing, and playing at the highest level. That’s fun to me.”

Melton: “I’m a quiet person until I really get to meet you. And then I’ll be joking a lot. Probably on the court, people don’t see me show as much emotion. I would probably say that. But I think most of the time [off the court], I’m laughing, joking, playing around.”

Milton: “That everybody thinks I’m just so quiet. Like, yeah I’m laid back and calm, but I feel like everybody in my circle be telling me to shut up more than anything else.”

When you retire, what do you want people to say about you?

Tucker: “I want [teammates] to say that I was the hardest working, most unselfish player they ever played with.”

Maxey: “When I retire, I would hope people would say Tyrese was somebody who outworked a lot of people, who earned everything that he got – all of the accolades he got in the league. There was nothing given to him. And that he somehow got one percent better, literally, every single day and found ways to reach the maximum level of his potential.”

Niang: “I’ll be serious for one time in my life. I think just [for] people to respect the hard work that I put in every single day. I may not have been the fastest, jumped the highest, but at the end of the day I came in and gave my all. Affected the game in a positive way and affected my teammates in a positive way. I think the biggest thing for me is I like to be a team guy, get along with everybody, and make sure the vibes are always up. De’Anthony can attest to this, I probably talk too damn much, but just someone that is always trying to bring energy. Came in and did his job to the best of his ability…and a 3-point sniper.”

Melton: “Man, that he was a real one. He got it done. Nah, I’m playing. Somebody that worked. He ain’t have nothing handed to him. I had to go get everything and I did it my way. I didn’t have to change up or nothing like that. The same person from the time I got into the league until the time I leave.”

Reed: “I want people to say that he is one of the best players to ever play the game. I want people to say that he is a great human being off the court, as well as on the court. One of them dudes that just gives back to his community and really changes people’s lives.”

Danuel House Jr.: “That this guy gave us more life than you can ever imagine. That whatever you think or say about him doesn't really matter because I know the real him.”

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How The 2022-23 Sixers Want to Be Remembered: 76ers Insiders Interviews

The 76ers (53-28), who produced an impressive 15-point comeback win in Atlanta on Friday with their top-six rotation players out of the lineup, conclude their regular season slate by visiting the Brooklyn Nets (45-36) on Sunday afternoon.

The Nets secured the No. 6 seed in the East on Friday, setting up a first-round playoff matchup with the No. 3 Sixers.

Brooklyn hosted Orlando on Friday and won, 101-84. In 26 games since being traded to the Nets from Phoenix, Mikal Bridges is averaging a team-best 27.2 points per game. The 26-year-old Philadelphia native scored a game-high 22 points against the Magic, despite shooting just 7-for-24 from the field and 1-for-12 from 3-point range.

The Sixers played their last game without five starters in James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, P.J. Tucker, and Joel Embiid, plus primary sixth-man De’Anthony Melton.

As of Saturday evening, the injury report for Sunday included all six of those players as out once again, and Georges Niang (left knee soreness) as questionable. Nine Nets players appeared on the report: Seth Curry (out - left ankle soreness injury management), Dorian Finney-Smith (out - right wrist contusion injury management), Cameron Johnson (out - right knee soreness), Royce O’Neale (out - left knee soreness), Ben Simmons (out - back nerve impingement), Nic Claxton (questionable - rest), Spencer Dinwiddie (questionable - rest), Joe Harris (questionable - rest), Edmond Sumner (questionable - right hip contusion).

The regular season series between the Sixers and Nets favors Philadelphia, 3-0, with all three meetings decided by single digits. On Feb. 11 in Brooklyn, Embiid led all scorers with 37 points and 13 rebounds in a 101-98 victory. James Harden added 29 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Bridges led the Nets with 23 points.

The shorthanded Sixers got contributions across the roster in their road win over the Hawks last time out. In Friday’s 136-131 overtime victory, the Sixers received 24-point efforts from both Jalen McDaniels and Georges Niang to lead the team. Niang scored eight points (3-3 fg, 2-2 3fg) in the overtime period alone.

“At the beginning, we came out and knew we were playing to win, not playing for stats,” McDaniels said. “We were playing to play the right way, and that's what we did. Came out, played hard, got stops, and executed with the guys we had. J-Spring [Jaden Springer], he just came back from the G League and fit right in... He did his thing. We were all locked in just having fun out there. Having fun and flying around.”

Springer and the Delaware Blue Coats clinched the NBA G League championship the night before, with the 20-year-old taking home the Finals MVP award. Joining the NBA club in Atlanta was a quick turnaround for Springer and his fellow Sixers teammates who played with the Blue Coats, two-way contract players Mac McClung (five points) and Louis King.

“It was good,” Springer said. “Going into the game, I didn't know what to expect. I just knew I was going to try and go out there, go hard, and compete. The results came out like I wanted them to. We got the dub and that's all that really matters.”

Those results included some clutch buckets for the second-year pro.

Springer tied the score twice in the final minute of regulation with a high-arcing swish from the right block and then a soaring putback dunk less than 30 seconds later. He also went head-to-head with two-time NBA All-Star Trae Young for much of the night, and stopped him on the final possession to force overtime.

“He was great, he was great defensively, stayed within his role,” 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said of Springer. “He did the little things. Ran a play down the stretch - that last play - for him to slip to get to the bucket. That's why the guys on the bench went nuts, because we ran a play for [Springer] and he executed it. He did a couple of things like that all game, so I was really proud of him. Loved that he pulled up twice for 3 with confidence, because that's his next step. Defensively, I'm just going to keep saying it, he's an NBA defender. He makes plays, he rebounds the ball, he does a lot of little things.”

“I told our coaches 'I don't know if we can win this game or not, but this is an important game for our role players,'” Rivers added. “To come out and prove that they're good basketball players, and start feeling good. Going into the playoffs, wins like this are huge for you.”

Sunday’s contest is a 1 p.m. ET afternoon tipoff in Brooklyn.

All five starters (Milton, Springer, Niang, McDaniels, Reed) – and seven Sixers total – scored in double figures. The team is now 18-1 in games with at least six double-digit scorers.

Jaden Springer details his busy couple of days helping lead the Blue Coats to their G League title before joining the 76ers in Atlanta:

“[On Thursday], we played in Texas, so Central Time. Got over with the game around 11 [p.m.], got back to the hotel at 12 [a.m.]. Had to be up at 4:50 to head to the airport. Got on the plane - couple of flights - got here around 11:30/12, took a nap and got [to the arena] for shootaround at about 5, and got ready for this game.”

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76ers Visit Brooklyn Nets for Regular Season Finale | Gameday Report 82/82

Joel Embiid called it a “big-time freaking win."

The 76ers (41-22) went into Milwaukee on Saturday night and pulled off an 18-point comeback against the Bucks (45-18), who were on an NBA season-best 16-game winning streak and held a 27-5 home record prior to tipoff.

Next, the Sixers continue their five-game road trip (2-1) by visiting the Indiana Pacers (29-36).

Embiid and James Harden each posted at least 30 points along with 10 assists in the 133-130 victory in Milwaukee. Harden led all scorers with a season-high 38 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter.

“Every game for us is a playoff game, literally,” Harden said postgame.

The Pacers enter the upcoming matchup following a dramatic win over their own. In the front end of a road-home back-to-back, they were in Chicago on Sunday afternoon and came away with a 125-122 win on a deep, game-winning 3-pointer from their All-Star Tyrese Haliburton.

Haliburton notched a 29-point, 11-assist double-double, and the Pacers’ bench came through with 57 points as a unit. Zach LaVine scored a game-high 42 points for the Bulls in defeat.

Aaron Nesmith (left hip soreness) and Kendall Brown (right tibia stress fracture) did not play for Indiana. Sixers Tobias Harris (left calf contusion) and P.J. Tucker (back spasms) were both listed as questionable on the injury report as of Sunday evening after leaving the Bucks game early.

The first two games of the season series between the Sixers and Pacers went to the former, the home team in South Philadelphia on both occasions (Oct. 24 and Jan. 4). Harden posted 29 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists in the first meeting, plus 26 points and eight assists in the second.

Jumping back to Saturday, the Bucks led the Sixers 99-85 after three quarters. Grayson Allen knocked down six 3-pointers for the home team in the third quarter alone.

The Sixers then scored 48 points in the final frame. Georges Niang delivered clutch three after clutch three in crunch time, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in the quarter. Harden and Embiid each swished improbable treys in the final minute-and-change.

“We just kind of hung in there,” 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said of the comeback. “I thought the second group tonight - in both stretches - in the second quarter, I thought they came in and gave us life and energy. And then in the fourth quarter, I thought that group saved the game for us. Jalen [McDaniels], Paul Reed, James [Harden], Shake [Milton], Georges [Niang].”

“I'm very comfortable in those situations,” said Harden. “Whether it's playmaking, whether it's scoring. I've been doing it for a long time. That's just me, out there, playing basketball. I put the work in. I work on it every single day at practice and the results show.”

Add Tyrese Maxey to a group with Harden and Embiid and the trio combined to score 95 points in the victory. Maxey himself has scored 105 points over the last four games.

“Tyrese is a bundle of energy,” said teammate Jalen McDaniels. “He's going to get downhill. He's going to hit his shots. And, you know, one thing I've noticed about him is he never loses confidence. He's just going to keep going.”

The Sixers will face another quick turnaround to close out their five-game road trip, traveling to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Monday’s game in Indiana is a 7 p.m. ET tipoff.

“There's highs, there's lows, and there's just – you're trying to make 40-percent of your [threes],” Niang said postgame. “I don't ever try to get too high. This game can drain some people. I just try to be me and show up and do what I do every day.”

Tyrese Maxey on his recent scoring stretch…

“Joel [Embiid] had a talk with me, talking about how I need to be aggressive. And that's what I go out there and do.”

Embiid on how Maxey responded to the conversation…

“Man, he's been great. I think he's – not necessarily learning, but I think he's trying to balance it out. I keep reminding him that being aggressive doesn't mean always shooting the ball... We need him to be that guy because we're going to need him in those positions. So, it's great. I mean, after I'm done playing basketball, I'm going to be a motivational speaker I guess.”

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Visiting the Indiana Pacers, 76ers Carry Momentum from Win Over Bucks | Gameday Report 64/82

The 76ers (35-19) will look to cap a perfect back-to-back Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets (33-22), facing the second New York City squad in as many days.

It’ll be another matchup between two of the East’s top teams, as the Sixers occupy the No. 3 seed while the Nets hold No. 5.

The Sixers took a 119-108 victory over the Knicks in the back-to-back opener Friday at home, as Joel Embiid notched his 30th 30-plus-point performance of the season, and Tyrese Maxey launched off the bench for a 27-point outing.

The Sixers weathered an early storm and finished strong, out-scoring the Knicks 27-15 in the pivotal fourth quarter.

James Harden neared triple-double territory once again, finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists.

The Sixers and Nets last met on Jan. 25, as the Sixers took a 137-133 victory in South Philadelphia.

Maxey led the way for the Sixers in that matchup, scoring another set of 27 points off the bench, plus three rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Embiid notched a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Harden totalled 23 points, three rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.

In the aftermath of the trade deadline, the new-look Nets will be without both of their team’s leading scorers from the early season, with Kevin Durant (29.7 ppg) joining the Phoenix Suns and Kyrie Irving (27.1 ppg) joining the Dallas Mavericks ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Returning to the Nets at the deadline was Spencer Dinwiddie, who had a strong showing in his first game back with the Nets Thursday - finishing with 25 points, five rebounds, six assists, and four steals in the Nets’ 116-105 win over Chicago.

As of Friday evening, incoming Nets Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are both questionable for Saturday’s matchup (trade pending).

Nic Claxton (right hamstring tightness) is probable, while Seth Curry (left adductor strain) is out.

Maxey on his defensive performance:“I was messing with Melt [De’Anthony Melton], I said, ‘I’m De’Anthony Melton.’ It was great. I know coach Doc has been talking about it the last two games - about us as a team getting into the ball and just putting pressure on guys. I just want to try and go in there and cause that type of havoc and help defensively as much as I could.”

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76ers Visit Nets for Latter End of Back-to-Back | Gameday Report 55/82

Two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference meet again Wednesday night in Boston, as the 76ers (34-18) face the Celtics (38-16) for the first time since the NBA season opener on Oct. 18.The Celtics won that opening game, 126-117. James Harden, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points in the contest. Six-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid posted 26 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, and five assists.The Sixers are 14-10 on the road, good for the second-best road winning percentage (.583) in the NBA. Boston is first (18-9 away, .667). They beat the Pistons in Detroit, 111-99, in their previous game on Monday behind 16-for-37 (.432) shooting from 3-point range and 34 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists from Tatum.As of Tuesday evening, the injury report included Joel Embiid (questionable - left foot soreness) for the Sixers, as well as the following Celtics: Jaylen Brown (probable - non-COVID illness), Robert Williams III (probable - left ankle sprain), Luke Kornet (probable - left ankle sprain), Marcus Smart (out - right ankle sprain), and Danilo Gallinari (out - left knee ACL repair).

“You do look back,” 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said following practice on Tuesday in Camden. “It's funny, San Antonio was a little similar because we played them game two or three and then you play them again. And what's great is looking back and seeing how far you've come from the last time you've played a team. Not necessarily looking at the game. You're just really looking at your team. Defensively and offensively, what are you doing differently? What are you doing better? How much better is your execution? Then you look at the team. Boston's a team that we'll have three times, counting [Wednesday], and then hopefully in the playoffs. There's a chance that we have Boston 10 more times this year.”After Wednesday, the regular season series shifts to South Philadelphia on Feb. 25 and April 4.The Sixers’ last outing was a 108-97 road loss to the Knicks on Sunday evening. New York pieced together a comeback — the Sixers led 33-12 late in the first quarter — with the help of 31 combined points from reserves Evan Fournier (5-8 3fg) and Miles McBride (3-6 3fg, 5-6 ft).

Now, another big stage on the road provides an even bigger opportunity to bounce back.“Yeah, absolutely,” Georges Niang said about this being a chance for a statement win. “I mean, you're playing the number one team in the Eastern Conference. They went to the Finals last year, they're the team that came out of the East. So of course this is a statement game.”

Wednesday is a 7:30 p.m. start in Boston.

Six 76ers reached double figures scoring against the Knicks.

“We just want him to keep playing the way he plays,”&nbsp; Doc Rivers said of Tucker. “I think his value will still come more later than it is now. We all know that... We love what he's bringing to this team. This team needs toughness, this team needs defensive knowledge and talk. P.J. provides all of that for us."

Embiid extended his streak of games with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds to six straight, the longest active streak in the league and the third-longest stretch by any player this season.

Georges Niang on another Boston homecoming:"It's like a blessing and a curse. You want a bunch of people to see you that have helped pave the way to get me here, but yeah, I try to tell people if my mom doesn't know your first and last name, I don't know if I can leave you a ticket. It is going to be a bunch. I haven't gotten the final count, but I'm sure I'll do that when I get on the plane. It's a blessing to have that many people come support me when I come back home."

Watch: ESPN, NBC Sports PhiladelphiaListen: 97.5 The Fanatic

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76ers Face Celtics in Boston | Gameday Report 53/82

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