Maxey, George propel 76ers past Celtics to set up decisive Game 7
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PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey poured in 30 points and Paul George added 23 as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 106-93 on Thursday night, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 in their first-round series.
The deciding contest is scheduled for Saturday in Boston.
Philadelphia, blown out by 32 points twice earlier in the matchup, delivered its most complete performance of the season. Joel Embiid, playing less than a month after an appendectomy, contributed 19 points. George, who missed 25 games this season because of a suspension for a failed drug test, sank five three-pointers and directed the offense while Embiid rested.
The game’s signature moment came midway through the third quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. blocked Jaylen Brown, Maxey corralled the loose ball and pushed it ahead to George, who threaded a behind-the-back pass to rookie VJ Edgecombe for a dunk that extended the lead to 69-54 and ignited the Wells Fargo Center crowd.
The 76ers are only the second team ever to record back-to-back double-digit wins over Boston while facing elimination, joining the 2012 Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.
Brown, limited by foul trouble, finished with 18 points. Jayson Tatum scored 17 before leaving in the third quarter with an apparent calf injury. The Celtics went the final 4 minutes, 4 seconds of the third period without a point, allowing Philadelphia to carry an 82-63 cushion into the fourth.
Boston now faces its third Game 7 after leading a series 3-1 in franchise history. The Celtics are 32-0 all-time in best-of-seven series when holding a 3-1 advantage; the Sixers are 0-18 when trailing 3-1.
George signed a four-year, $212 million deal with Philadelphia in 2024 but has battled injuries and off-court issues. His performance Thursday, alongside Maxey’s consistent scoring and Embiid’s return, kept the Sixers’ season alive.
Source: ESPN
