Tyrese Maxey

Matt Murphy

Lauren Rosen

An electric series, the next chapter in an iconic rivalry, comes to a close Sunday in Boston, as the 76ers (3-3) and Boston Celtics (3-3) meet for Game 7.

“It’s as close as it could possibly be, 3-3,” Tyrese Maxey said following the Sixers’ 95-86 Game 6 loss Thursday. “We’ve got to go out here, and we’ve got to fight.”

The gravity of a Game 7 - the second of Maxey’s young career - is not lost on the third-year pro:

“It’s one game. One game. We’re not worried about nothing else - the future, the past - just one game in the present. We’ve got to go out there, and we’ve got to fight our tails off. It’s going to be a battle.”

Maxey and Joel Embiid each scored a game-high 26 points in Game 6. Embiid leads the team in per-game scoring (27.6 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg) in the series thus far, while Maxey has averaged 20.3 points per game, and James Harden has averaged 24.2 points and a team-best 8.2 assists per game.

On Boston’s side, Jayson Tatum has led the way, averaging 25.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, while Jaylen Brown has contributed 22.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

“Training camp, going into the season, Boston was in the Finals last year - so somehow, some way, we had to get through this team,” Harden said postgame. “They’ve been together for some years, they’re well-coached, they’ve got a lot of depth, everybody knows that. You’ve got to get through them. Game seven.”

Ahead of a road Game 7, Maxey says his team will draw on its existing experience, and confidence, playing away from home.

“I know we’re going to rally,” Maxey said. “We’ve rallied all year long, on the road. We’ve got a tough group. We’ve got a very, very tough group.”

The Sixers have already won two of their three meetings in Boston this series. They are 4-1 on the road in the postseason thus far, and boasted a 25-16 road record in the regular season - the second-most road wins in the NBA.

“It’s going to be a war,” Maxey said. “And if I have to go to war, on the road, Game 7, Boston - I would want to go with this group.”

“This is the NBA. We play a lot of games. You don’t play as well as you would like one game, the beauty of it is, you’ve got another opportunity. We’ve got next game.”

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76ers and Celtics Set for Game 7 on Sunday | NBA Playoffs Gameday Report

The 76ers (3-2) can eliminate the Boston Celtics (2-3) from the NBA playoffs on Thursday night in South Philadelphia and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001. Game 6 is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and 97.5 The Fanatic.

The Sixers defeated the Celtics, 115-103, in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Boston. It was a statement road victory for the Sixers, and their second consecutive win in the series.

Tobias Harris (16 points, 11 rebounds) said the Sixers were locked in from shootaround through the final buzzer:

“We made the game simple [Tuesday]. Everyone chipped in with great effort.”

MVP Joel Embiid (33 points)—named to the Kia All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career on Wednesday—recorded his third straight 30-point game. He also blocked four shots, including one on quite the hustle play late in the game when he turned the ball over but chased down Boston’s Jaylen Brown.

“I’m going to give a shoutout to the big fella, Joel,” Tyrese Maxey (30 points, 6-12 3fg) said. “This year, as soon as we got to Charleston for training camp, I just noticed his leadership grow. When your best player is adamant about winning and leading by example, you have to raise your level of intensity.”

Embiid helped set the tone by scoring 21 of his 33 points (3-7 3fg) in the first half.

On a night when everything seemed to be working for a Sixers team showing great preparation and poise, James Harden (17 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists) came up just two rebounds shy of a playoff triple-double.

“I thought James was a magician tonight,” 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said of Harden. “He called a perfect game. He was aggressive early on, when he needed to be aggressive. And then he got everybody else involved.”

The NBA announced Wednesday afternoon that 76ers Harden and Maxey are two of the 10 nominees for the 2022-23 Bob Lanier Community Assist Award.

Game 7, if necessary, would be played Sunday in Boston.

Thursday is a 7:30 p.m. ET start in Philadelphia.

“I want to win and I can't let my brothers down,” House Jr. said. “My name was called, so I had to step up.”

Doc Rivers, Wednesday afternoon, on the team’s mindset ahead of Game 6:

“You can’t get too comfortable. Period. In the playoffs, there’s no such thing as comfort. I’ve never heard the words comfort and playoffs together. They just don’t go together.”

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76ers Host Celtics in Game 6 Thursday | NBA Playoffs Gameday Report

The 76ers (2-2) and Boston Celtics (2-2) are set for a pivotal Game 5 Tuesday in Boston, as the two teams race to four wins in their Eastern Conference Semifinal duel.

Sunday’s Game 4 brought overtime drama, as the Sixers took a 116-115 victory to even the series behind heroics from MVPs James Harden (42 pts, 9 ast, 8 reb) and Joel Embiid (34 pts, 13 reb) down the stretch.

“We just fought,” Doc Rivers said postgame. “This is the way it’s going to be. It’s going to be a game of runs. We’ve got to keep our composure. I was proud of our guys.”

The Sixers came out particularly hot in Game 4, taking a 27-19 lead out of the first quarter break and a 59-50 lead into halftime.

“I thought they played with a lot of force in the first half,” Boston Head Coach Joe Mazzulla said of the Sixers. “We combated that in the second half… When you’re talking about the playoffs, and winning these games, it comes down to what our mindset is going to be.”

On Mazzulla’s side, Jayson Tatum scored a team-high 24 points, plus a game-high 18 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and four blocks. Jaylen Brown added 23 points, three rebounds, and five assists, while Marcus Smart totalled 21 points, three boards, and seven assists.

But it was Harden’s second 40-point outing of the series that carried the Sixers across the finish line ahead.

“I just want to win, no matter how it plays out,” Harden said. “I just want to win. And quite frankly, today was a do-or-die for us. We just found a way to win, and that’s all that matters in the postseason.”

But business is far from over ahead of Game 5’s series tiebreaker, and Thursday’s Game 6. Game 7 (if necessary) will be played Sunday.

“Watch film, get better, and be ready to go,” Harden said. “See things we can get better at, and be ready to go for Game 5.”

Tuesday’s Game 5 is a 7:30 p.m. ET tip.

Harden neared a 40-point triple-double, with a game-high 42 points, eight rebounds, a game-high nine assists, and a game-high four steals. He shot 16-for-23 from the floor, 6-for-9 from deep, and 4-for-4 from the foul line in 47 minutes of play.

Embiid notched a 34-point, 13-rebound double-double, plus four assists and a steal in his 46 minutes.

Maxey tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block in 45 minutes of play.

Harden on his guest of honor at Sunday’s game:

“[John Hao] is my good luck charm. I’ve been keeping in contact with him. Obviously, for a tragedy like that to happen, there’s a lot of nonsense going on in the world. For him to be a victim of that is heartbreaking. But he’s strong. I feel like it’s my job to give him that light and that smile that he deserves and needs. Hopefully today was one of those days where he’s smiling. That’s what I’m here for.”

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76ers Back to Boston for Game 5 | 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.”

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

Matt Shanley

A matchup you don't want to miss. The Sixers' second round series with the Boston Celtics starts Monday, May 1.

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76ers vs. Boston Celtics: Round 2 Hype Video

The 76ers (3-0) have a chance to sweep their first round matchup with the Brooklyn Nets (0-3) in Saturday’s Game 4 matinee in Brooklyn..

Doc Rivers called Thursday’s Game 3 the epitome of a team win - after the Nets outscored the Sixers, 35-18, in the third quarter, the Sixers bounced back for a 26-15 fourth period.&nbsp;

“That was called a win,” Rivers said postgame. “We didn’t do a lot of things right, a lot of things didn’t go our way, and we just hung in there and won the game.”

In a tense affair that included a pair of ejections (James Harden and Nic Claxton), Rivers credited his team for keeping its cool down the stretch.

“We executed down the stretch. Got great shots. We moved the ball, and played right.”

Tyrese Maxey led the way for the Sixers, scoring 15 points in the first half and 10 more in the game’s final - and pivotal - minutes.

Over the course of the series thus far, Maxey has averaged a team-high 23.7 points, plus four rebounds and two assists. The third-year Sixer is shooting a massive 53.8% from 3-point territory.

“I’m always trying to get him activated,” P.J. Tucker said of Maxey postgame. “He doesn’t need a lot to get going. He can just run them off, and take over the game. He’s that good.”

Mikal Bridges had another big night for Brooklyn, finishing with a game-high 26 points, six rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block. Spencer Dinwiddie added 20 points, three rebounds, a team-high seven assists, and two steals.

As of Friday evening, the Sixers will be without Joel Embiid (right knee sprain) in Game 4.

Saturday’s Game 4 is a 1 p.m. ET tip in Brooklyn.

Watch: TNT, NBC Sports PhiladelphiaListen: 97.5 The Fanatic

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76ers Seek to End Series with Nets in Game Four | NBA Playoffs Gameday Report

The No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers hold a 2-0 series lead over the No. 6 Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference First Round. The series shifts to Brooklyn on Thursday after a 96-84 Sixers’ win Monday in South Philadelphia.

The Sixers are winners of six straight playoff games against the Nets overall, and also won this year’s regular season series 4-0.

“We want to win so bad – the emotions are high, the stakes are high,” Tyrese Maxey said following Wednesday’s practice. “We’re healthy and we’re resilient. That makes us dangerous.”

The injury report for Game 3 included Philadelphia’s Jalen McDaniels (questionable - non-COVID illness) and Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons (out - back; nerve impingement) as of Wednesday evening.

In Monday’s victory, the Sixers trailed by double digits late in the first half and overcame what was a five-point halftime deficit. Brooklyn continued to double team Joel Embiid (20 points) early and often, but Embiid’s impact was again felt on both ends of the floor, grabbing 15 of his game-high 19 rebounds in the first half alone and recording a game-high three blocked shots by the final buzzer, plus seven assists and a steal.

“He’s doing a great job of allowing his teammates to flourish out there on the floor and that’s bringing us a lot of energy,” Tobias Harris said of Embiid postgame.

Philadelphia outscored Brooklyn, 52-35, in the second half, marking the first time that the 76ers have limited an opponent to 35 or fewer points in the second half of any playoff game since May 4, 2012 vs. Chicago.

Maxey led all scorers with 33 points, including six 3-pointers, for the home team. Cam Johnson scored 22 of his Nets-high 28 points in the first half.

Each team called a timeout within the first two minutes of the third quarter, and the Sixers went on a 20-5 soon after to capture the momentum. Harris played a pivotal role in the run, and finished the contest with a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double. Five of his rebounds were offensive boards, helping the Sixers to an 18-0 advantage in second-chance points.

Total rebounds favored Philadelphia by a 56-33 count in Game 2.

Thursday’s Game 3 is a 7:30 p.m. ET start in Brooklyn.

76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers on Tobias Harris’ strong start to the series:

“He’s been great. Just solid. He had 20 again, and I think we ran one play for him. Other than that, he’s letting it come to him. He’s just playing the right way.”

“He’s really fighting defensively. That keeps going unnoticed. His defense in these two games has been unbelievable.”

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76ers and Nets Shifts to Brooklyn for Game 3 | NBA Playoffs Gameday Report

The No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers took a 1-0 series lead over the No. 6 Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference First Round with a 121-101 home victory on Saturday afternoon.

The Sixers connected on a franchise playoff-record 21 3-pointers (21-43, .488) and never trailed in the contest.

“I've been in the playoffs a couple times,” said first-year 76er De’Anthony Melton. “But the Philly crowd is different.”

“It was a good feeling,” Paul Reed said of hearing the crowd chant his nickname ‘Bball Paul’ during a pivotal second-half stretch. “It was a special feeling. It let me know... They like me a lot.”

As of Sunday evening, the injury report for Game 2 once again listed one player as out: Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons (back; nerve impingement).

In Saturday’s win, Philadelphia corralled 14 offensive rebounds and put up 21 second-chance points. The home team committed only nine turnovers, compared to 20 turnovers for the Nets that led to 31 points.

Offseason acquisition P.J. Tucker grabbed five of those offensive boards for the Sixers.

“Playoff basketball is just about every possession,” Tobias Harris (21 points) said. “And P.J., he gave us more possessions out there. Crashing the glass, being physical, his presence defensively... Five steals, five offensive rebounds - that's huge.”

76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers credited his “energy guys” – including Tucker, Reed, Melton, and Jalen McDaniels – after the game.

“I thought Paul Reed and [P.J. Tucker] had an amazing impact on the game. P.J. was great… I thought our energy guys played a big part in our game. Those guys had a huge imprint on why we won.”

MVP finalist Joel Embiid delivered a team-high 26 points in the face of countless extra defenders sent his way.

“He's gonna get us buckets no matter what,” James Harden said of Embiid. “That's how good he is.”

Harden drilled five of his seven total 3-pointers – which tied a playoff career-high – in the game’s first half.

Mikal Bridges scored 23 of his game-high 30 points for the Nets in the opening half.

The Sixers swept the regular season series from Brooklyn, 4-0.

Monday’s game is a 7:30 p.m. ET start in South Philly.

Another notable stat line is that of veteran starter P.J. Tucker, who played his 92nd career playoff game and first as a 76er. Tucker contributed six points on a pair of threes, plus seven rebounds, two assists, and a playoff career-high five steals.

P.J. Tucker on giving some constructive criticism to Paul Reed at halftime of Game 1:

“I felt like he didn't have the energy. Then he came out in the second half and responded. So I told everybody I'm gonna curse Paul out every halftime... We need him, and I'm gonna always stay on him.”

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76ers, Brooklyn Nets Meet Again Monday for Game 2 | NBA Playoffs Gameday Report

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