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Celtics stave off elimination vs. 76ers: Defense helps Boston survive in ugly Game 6 win - The Athletic

The Boston Celtics staved off elimination with a 95-86 Game 6 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, bringing the series to 3-3. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Marcus Smart led the Celtics with 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Jayson Tatum finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four turnovers.
  • Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey both scored 26 points apiece for the 76ers.
  • Game 7 is set for Sunday from Boston.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Boston’s defense showed up when it mattered most

The Celtics were an offensive disaster for so much of this game. But they’ve built an identity on defense over the years that came out when it mattered most, as they nailed their adjustments, found their heart, and shut the Sixers down in crunch time.

Philadelphia didn’t hit a single shot between Embiid at the 6:10 mark and Jaden Springer’s garbage time jumper with 22 seconds left.

Boston knew its best chance to win this game was to ratchet up their defense and get out and run. The half-court offense was genuinely hideous. But if they couldn’t get what they wanted, they were going to take it away from Philadelphia as well.

They just had to survive long enough for one of their stars to come through, and Tatum went from a nightmare to a hero down the stretch. This was an ugly win but they survived for a Game 7 on their home floor. — Weiss

76ers miss big opportunity

Philadelphia said all the right things about being ready to go to Boston for Game 7, but this has a chance to go down as one of the greatest missed opportunities in franchise history. The Sixers defended at a high level, Tatum was struggling mightily for the entire game and they just couldn’t take advantage.

The 76ers couldn’t score, specifically. They had a 90.5 offensive rating per Cleaning The Glass, tied for their worst offensive performance all season. The Celtics’ two-big offense mucked up the spacing (and that will be a major talking point heading into Game 7 in Boston on Sunday), and the Sixers also shot a miserable 8 of 34 from beyond the arc.

James Harden went 4 of 16 from the field, as he had another down game. If the Sixers do get eliminated in Boston, they will be thinking of their poor execution down the stretch in a 23-14 Boston fourth quarter. — Hofmann

Backstory

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla made an adjustment to start Robert Williams III rather than Derrick White for Game 6. Smart, Jaylen Brown, Tatum, Williams and Al Horford were the starting five for Boston. Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and White were the only players to come off the Celtic bench, combining for 25 points.

After struggling through the first three quarters, Tatum looked more like himself through the final 12 minutes, scoring 16 of his 19 points and hitting a dagger of a stepback 3-pointer. Tatum shot 5 of 21 from the field and 4-for-11 from behind the arc.

Harden had 13 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, three steals and five turnovers. Embiid, Harden and Maxey were the only 76ers to score in double figures.

Highlight of the game

Key stat

Philadelphia had more turnovers (11) than made 3s (eight) and was out-rebounded 50-38 by the Celtics.

Required reading

(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)

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