In a back and forth game Wednesday night at TD Garden in Boston, the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 114-112 in game five of an Eastern Conference semifinal series. Boston wins the series 4-1, and will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals beginning Sunday.
Boston got some breathing room a bit in this one just before the half. Leading by just a point, the Celtics used an 8-0 run in the last 1:45 of the second quarter to make it 61-52. Boston built their biggest lead of 12 in the third quarter, before Philadelphia cut it to a single point again at 83-82. The 76ers took the lead in the fourth when Robert Covington knocked down a three pointer. Philadelphia led by as many as four points at 94-90, before a 10-0 Celtics run gave the hosts a six point lead sparked by two Al Horford baskets, and a Terry Rozier finger roll. The 76ers last lead was on a Dario Saric reverse layup with 1:37 left to make it 109-105. Boston scored the next eight points on a Horford dunk, a Marcus Smart tip in, a Jayson Tatum layup, and two free throws by Rozier to make it 113-109. J.J. Reddick made a three pointer with 4.7 seconds left to cut it to 113-112. Smart then made one of two from line with 2.4 seconds left, and also intercepted a long Ben Simmons pass as time expired, ending the 76ers season.
Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 25 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Jaylen Brown shot 10-13 and finished with 24 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Rozier had 17 points and six rebounds. Horford had 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and five steals. Smart had 14 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Aron Baynes also chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds.
Saric and Joel Embiid led Philadelphia with 27 points each, and both had double doubles with 10 and 12 rebounds respectively. Simmons added 18 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The 76ers end their season with a record of 57-35.
The Cavaliers and Celtics get the Eastern Conference Finals going at TD Garden with game one Sunday at 3:30 pm.
