76ers force Celtics to Game 7 showdown in Boston: Game 6 takeaways

Atlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksLatest Mock DraftWhat Makes Up Championship DNA?Player Poll: Who is the MVP?Player Poll: Who Will Win Title?NBA Playoffs VJ Edgecombe and the 76ers kept their season alive with a win in Game 6. Elsa / Getty Images Share article5The two best words in sports — Game 7 — are officially set. The Philadelphia 76ers kept their season alive with a 106-93 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, forcing a winner-take-all finale on Saturday. After falling behind 3-1 in the series, Philadelphia has battled all the way back, powered by its Big Three. Tyrese Maxey led the charge with 30 points, Paul George added 23, and Joel Embiid delivered a near triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. It marks the first time since 2020 that a team has trailed 3-1 in the first round and forced a Game 7 — when the Denver Nuggets rallied past the Utah Jazz. Philadelphia controlled the night from the jump, feeding off the home crowd and leading for the majority of the game. Meanwhile, Boston’s offensive struggles continued. The Celtics shot just 41.9 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from 3 in Game 6. Jayson Tatum finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown chipped in 18 points. Now it all comes down to Game 7. The series shifts back to Boston on Saturday, where the Celtics have gone 30-11 this season and will try to protect home court with everything on the line. Here are some key takeaways heading into Game 7. For the first time in this series, it feels like the 76ers are capable of beating the Celtics and advancing to the second round. Beating the Celtics in Game 6 at Xfinity Mobile Arena opened some eyes to a few things. The Sixers have figured out Boston’s offense. They are defending Tatum and Brown in isolation, forcing them inside the 3-point line and staying home on Boston’s plethora of shooters. They are rebounding, playing tough and with physicality. They have, frankly, played the better brand of basketball over the last two games. That this series has flipped on its head seemed almost impossible last Sunday, when the Celtics embarrassed Philadelphia in a Game 4 win on the Sixers’ home floor. Even when Philadelphia came back and won Game 5 on Tuesday night, it felt simply like they were delaying the inevitable. But Thursday night’s Game 6? This feels different. This feels like Philadelphia knows it has a chance to steal this series. Boston needed Game 6, and Philadelphia answered that desperation. What happens on Saturday at TD Garden remains to be seen. But, one thing can no longer be disputed. This is now anyone’s series. — Tony Jones, Sixers beat writer Somehow, the Celtics need to find more offense from their supporting cast. They have received little from their centers throughout this series. Derrick White finally made a few 3-pointers Thursday, but has been in a deep rut otherwise. Jordan Walsh has done a good job on Maxey, but isn’t much of a threat to put the ball in the basket. Sam Hauser can pour in 3-pointers in bunches, but hasn’t found much freedom yet against Philadelphia. With Payton Pritchard quiet for most of Game 6, the Celtics were too reliant on Brown and Tatum, and those stars weren’t good enough to carry the entire offense. The Celtics also need to do a better job with offensive rebounding. Their ability to hit the offensive glass was a big factor early in this series but the 76ers shut off that part of Boston’s formula Thursday. The Celtics only grabbed one offensive rebound before halftime. Normally extremely effective at winning the possession game, they lost it thoroughly because they also committed an uncharacteristic number of turnovers in the first half. Plenty of other factors contributed to their lopsided loss, but their inability to rely on two of their stylistic pillars cost them. They will have another chance to close out the series at home in Game 7, but the 76ers have all the momentum now. — Jay King, Celtics beat writer Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms