76ers walk into Boston and steal Game 5, now down 3-2 in series
Apr 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88)nin the first quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
With the entire NBA world counting out the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid and co. walked into TD Garden and took Game 5 for themselves 113-97. Embiid turned a good performance in his return in Game 4 into an excellent one here in Game 5.
Philadelphia begins its quest to come back from down 3-1 in the series and get to extend this series at least one game further.
Embiid led the way for the Sixers with a 33-point, 8-assist, 4-rebound performance in 39 minutes of play. Playing in almost 40 minutes, just a little under 3 weeks from his appendectomy, is an incredible accomplishment that cannot be understated, as Embiid seems like he hasn’t missed a beat. Without hitting any threes, Embiid’s 33 points came from 12/23 field goal shooting and 9/10 from the free throw line. Not only was his scoring a big positive for this team, but the fact that he was able to go to his game of fadeaways and spinning fallback middies is such a huge factor for the rest of this series, however long that is.
Along with Embiid’s heroics, Tyrese Maxey took a leap in Game 5. Maxey has thrown up ill-advised shots all series long, trying to do too much and being selfish, not passing up his bad shots for good shots. In Game 5, however, Maxey utilized his mid-range and inside game to pick apart the defense. Once he realized his three-point shot wasn’t falling, as he shot just 3/10, Maxey began using the other parts of his game. Not including his threes, Maxey shot 7/8 from the field and knocked down both of his free throw attempts. In addition to his scoring, Maxey was a force on the boards, coming in and hauling in 10 rebounds.
However, the biggest factor in Game 5 was not Embiid’s heroics nor Maxey finally stepping it up. It was Boston shooting 28% from the three.
The Celtics have completely created their roster for the three-ball and have catered all players on the team to become a threat from beyond the arc. Even the backup centers, Luka Garza and Nikola Vucevic, can bury home a three if they are left too open. The number of guys on this roster that can make a play from deep makes them so dangerous, but the problem with a three-point-first strategy is that if it isn’t falling, then the team isn’t winning.
Boston lives and dies by the three-ball, and in Game 5, they died. The three-point tandem of Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White combined for just 2 three pointers after the team set the record for the most threes in the franchise’s playoff history in Game 4, with 24. Jayson Tatum himself wasn’t even too hot from three, knocking down 4 of his 12 attempts. Much of Boston’s scoring is designed to be kickouts from Brown and Tatum to shooters in the wings and corners, but nobody was able to get hot from range for the Celtics, leaving a big hole.
Nick Nurse has had an issue with making adjustments when needed this series, but finally, it looks like he made some valuable changes that led to this series and season being extended at least one more game.
Game 6 will take place on Thursday night back at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in front of the home crowd, whom of which they most definitely will not want to disappoint.
Evan Hartenstein
Evan has been a member of the Philly Sports Reports team since March 2023. He is covering the 76ers and wants to pursue a long-lasting career in Sports Journalism.
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