By William Armstead
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics by a score of 113-97 in Game 5 of their first-round series. The Sixers won in hostile territory to keep their season alive after facing elimination.
The Celtics struggled in this game, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum still being the top performers for the team in a loss. Tatum had a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Brown scored 22 on just 39 percent shooting.
The Celtics were ahead by 13 in the third quarter, but a 15-3 run by the Sixers brought them back in the game. In the fourth quarter, the Celtics shot an abysmal 3-22 from the field.
As for the Sixers, Joel Embiid performed well in just his second game back after his appendectomy, scoring 33 points and dishing out eight assists. Embiid struggled in the first quarter, but then found his form as the game went on.
Tyrese Maxey had a double-double with 25 points and 10 boards, and Paul George added 16 points.
The Sixers were down double-digit points in both the second and third quarters, but a scoring surge brought them within striking distance to start the fourth quarter. The Sixers then pulled away, ending the game on a 19-5 run.
Game 6 will be in Philadelphia on Thursday at 8:00 p.m., where the Sixers will look to survive once again to force a Game 7 in Boston. Game 6 will stream on Peacock and NBCSN.