BBNBA: Maxey, 76ers routed in Game 2 by Celtics despite Embiid's return

The Philadelphia 76ers, led by the best playoff performance of James Harden’s career, shocked the NBA earlier this week. No. 3 Philly took down the No. 2 Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals despite All-Star center Joel Embiid, who was named MVP of the 2022-23 season on Tuesday, sitting out due to a sprained right knee. Harden poured in 45 points while former Kentucky Wildcat Tyrese Maxey dropped in 26 points and four steals as the Sixers snuck out of Boston with a 119-115 win.

And just like that, Philadelphia had swiped away homecourt advantage from the Celtics. With Embiid returning for Game 2, Boston was suddenly on the verge of falling down 0-2 with the series shifting to Philly for Games 3 and 4. But even with Embiid roaming the floor for the 76ers, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics used a 35-16 third-quarter run to cruise to a 121-87 win, knotting the series at 1-1.

Boston led by as many as 36 points down the stretch. Brown finished with 25 points while Malcolm Brogdon — who beat out Immanuel Quickley for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year — chipped in 23 points.

It was a poor night all around for the 76ers, which shot under 40 percent from the floor. Embiid finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and five blocks in a limited 26 minutes of action, Harden shot 2-14 overall, and Maxey chipped in just 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Philly went from 17 made triples in Game 1 to just a 6-30 clip in Game 2.

Most notably, Embiid said after the loss that his injury is supposed to keep him out for 4-6 weeks, but the opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the series was too much to pass up. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.

“I felt pretty good to play and I felt like I could help the team,” Embiid said, per the NBA. “I feel like I just got this out the way. Disappointed by the loss. But that’s a step toward getting back to myself.”

The series will now move to Philadelphia for the next two contests. Game 3 is set for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. Here’s hoping Maxey can bounce back for another big game.

5/3/23 statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	87-121 L @ BOS	13	6-14 (1-4)	3	3	0	1	1	-25	30

Tonight in the NBA

Western Conference Semifinals
9:00 (ESPN): No. 7 Lakers (Davis, Gabriel, Vanderbilt) @ No. 6 Warriors | LAL leads 1-0

Game 2 of the most anticipated series of the NBA Playoffs thus far will tip off late Thursday night. The Los Angeles Lakers, powered by an insane 30-point, 23-rebound effort from Anthony Davis, pulled off a shocking Game 1 road win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors, 117-112. Jarred Vanderbilt had the task of defending Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry, which he did successfully for the majority of the game.

Can the Lakers repeat in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead back to L.A.? This will be appointment TV, folks.