Celtics wobble however maintain off 76ers to pressure deciding Sport 7 on Sunday

Jayson Tatum missed his first six 3-pointers earlier than he drilled two straight clutch ones late within the recreation that pushed the Celtics previous the Philadelphia 76ers 95-86 on Thursday evening to ship the Japanese Convention semifinals again to Boston for Sport 7.

The defending convention champs are in acquainted territory. Boston trailed 3-2 final season within the second spherical in opposition to Milwaukee earlier than it gained Sport 6 on the street and the clincher at dwelling.

Sport 7 is Sunday.

Tatum, who averaged 30.1 factors within the common season, by no means stopped capturing even because the misses stored coming. He missed 14 of his first 15 pictures general from the ground and his ineffectiveness was a key motive the Celtics could not maintain a 16-point lead.

With a shot at their first convention closing since 2001 at stake, the Sixers slogged by way of the primary half earlier than Joel Embiid flashed his MVP kind and rallied the Sixers to a fourth-quarter lead.

Tyrese Maxey hit two free throws with 5:25 left for an 83-81 edge.

And that was it for Philly.

Tatum will get sizzling on the proper time

Tatum buried one 3 for the 84-83 lead and a second that made it 87-83 and put the Celtics in agency management of Sport 6.

Embiid and Tyrese Maxey every scored 26 factors for the 76ers.

76ers coach Doc Rivers has blown three 3-1 sequence leads over his playoff profession. Whereas the 76ers by no means obtained that far forward, that is their second loss at dwelling within the sequence and so they seemingly had seized momentum within the fourth quarter.

Tatum as an alternative caught it to the 76ers with one closing 3-point dagger for a 95-84 lead.

Tatum missed all 10 pictures, together with 5 3-point makes an attempt, within the first half half because the Celtics led by seven. Tatum has mentioned he might have surgical procedure on his left wrist within the offseason within the wake of a tough fall. No matter the reason for his capturing ails, he discovered the remedy within the closing 12 minutes and the East champs nonetheless have life.