Celtics, 76ers will add to their lengthy playoff historical past with a Recreation 7 matchup in Boston
BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics seemed to be skipping towards the second spherical of the NBA playoffs following a 32-point street win in Recreation 4 at Philadelphia.
However back-to-back convincing wins by the 76ers in Recreation 5 and Recreation 6 have left a Boston staff that after appeared like a favourite to emerge from the Japanese Convention on the point of an epic collapse.
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A loss in Saturday’s Recreation 7 could be the No. 2 seed Celtics’ earliest exit from the playoffs because the 2020-21 season.
They could must do it with star Jayson Tatum coping with a brand new ailment after he briefly left Recreation 6 within the third quarter for unspecified therapy to an obvious left calf harm. Tatum, in fact, is simply 22 video games into his return from the torn proper Achilles tendon harm he suffered in final season’s playoffs.
The Celtics downplayed the present scenario, with Tatum saying afterward that his leg was solely feeling “somewhat stiff.” He mentioned following a fast evaluation and a while on the train bike he didn’t return as a result of the sport was out of hand and the starters had already been pulled.
Coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned there was no harm in any respect and reiterated that in a convention name Friday.
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“He’ll play,” Mazzulla mentioned.
The latest historical past for winner-takes-all video games for Philadelphia groups isn’t precisely on the 76ers facet, although.
The Flyers’ return to the NHL playoffs served as a reminder they’re the final Philadelphia sports activities staff to win a Recreation 7, beating, sure, Boston, within the 2010 Japanese Convention semifinal.
Since then, the 76ers in 2012, 2019, 2021 and 2023 have all misplaced Recreation 7s; the Flyers misplaced one in 2014 and 2020; and the Phillies misplaced Recreation 7 of the NLCS in 2023.
The Phillies additionally misplaced a decisive Recreation 5 within the 2011 playoffs.
The Celtics have lengthy had the Sixers’ quantity within the playoffs, successful the final six collection. The 76ers final eradicated the Celtics within the 1982 Japanese Convention semis.
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“I’ve been enjoying these guys for therefore lengthy,” 76ers star Joel Embiid mentioned. “I’m bored with dropping to them. Now we have an opportunity to perform one thing particular.”
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
When/The place to look at: Recreation 7, 7:30 p.m. EDT (NBC/Peacock)
Sequence: Sequence tied 3-3
Betting line: Celtics by 7.5
What to Know: The Celtics are 27-10 all-time in Recreation 7s, the 76ers are 6-12 in such video games and are 0-4 in them since 2001. It’ll be the ninth Recreation 7 between these two franchises, with Boston going 6-2 within the earlier ones. Philadelphia is the thirty seventh staff in league historical past to pressure a Recreation 7 after trailing 3-1. Solely 13 groups have overcome that deficit and gained the collection. If Boston goes to forestall the 76ers from changing into the 14th, its capturing should enhance. The 76ers have held the NBA’s No. 2 rated offense in the course of the common season to underneath 100 factors per sport in back-to-back video games. The Celtics additionally mixed to shoot simply 30.5% (22/72) from 3-point vary, with 11 makes in every of these video games. They led the league within the common season, averaging 16 3s per sport.
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AP Sports activities Author Dan Gelston contributed.
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