NBA Playoffs: Joel Embiid leads the Philadelphia 76ers, pushing the Boston Celtics to the brink of elimination.
Joel Embiid scored 30 points for the third straight game as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 115-103, sending the defending Eastern Conference champions out of the playoffs.
Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 with to Embiid’s 33 points and Tyrese Maxey’s 30.
“It’s not over yet. We need to get another. “We have to show up,” added Embiid.
“What we did tonight is easier said than done, but we must repeat it.”
Only Allen Iverson (five in 2001) and Wilt Chamberlain (four in 1965) have had a longer postseason stretch of consecutive 30-point games than Embiid.
On Thursday, the 76ers have a chance to win in Philadelphia. If they succeed, they would have reached the conference finals for the first time since 2001.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum led the way with 36 points, and Jaylen Brown added 24, but the 76ers never trailed after the first quarter, improving to 4-1 on the road in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Phoenix Suns 118-102 to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semi-final series.
Nikola Jokic finished the game with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Bruce Brown added 25 points off the bench to put the Nuggets one win away from the finals.
Jokic’s triple-double was the 10th of his career in the playoffs, tying him for the most by a center in NBA history.