The Sixers force the seventh game against the disappointing Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers chose the perfect moment to put together their most complete performance of the season and force a seventh game against the Boston Celtics. With a solid 106-93 victory in the sixth game, the series is now tied 3-3 and will be decided in Boston, a setting loaded with recent history unfavorable to Philadelphia.

The home team never trailed, dominating from the start thanks to a collective effort led by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 30 points without committing turnovers in nearly 40 minutes, supported by a very complete performance by Paul George, who arguably played his best game since joining Philadelphia: 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a solid defense against the opposing wings.

Maxey did not hesitate to acknowledge his impact: "He was huge. Really, huge. Paul has been very, very good. He's been consistent, a great voice, and a great leader for all of us, and we appreciate him a lot."

Also crucial was Joel Embiid, who, despite not being sharp in shooting due to his recent appendix operation, nearly achieved a triple-double and directed the offense with authority, tallying eight assists to just one turnover. "I've been playing against these guys for a long time," he said with a smile. "I'm tired of losing to them. We have the opportunity to achieve something special. They are a great team, a super roster, so we need to maintain the mindset of the last two games."

The Cameroonian center also issued a warning about his form: "If you look at the shots I'm missing, many of them are short or go in and out. At some point, I'm going to have an extremely efficient night. Hopefully, it'll be in the next game."

Beyond individual performances, Philadelphia controlled key aspects of the game. They managed possession well, an area where Boston usually excels, and once again limited the opponent's outside shooting, holding the Celtics below 30% from the three-point line for the third time in the series. In contrast, in Boston's three wins, they averaged 20 three-pointers at a 41.7% accuracy, a difference that explains much of the current balance.

Poor Performance by the Celtics

On the visiting side, Jaylen Brown acknowledged offensive issues: "I think we are playing a bit to their liking. Even myself, the shots and situations we are creating are not what we have done all year. Maybe a shift in focus can open up options for us on offense."

Embiid's defense also prevented Jayson Tatum and Brown from excelling in the pick-and-roll. Both had modest performances, combining for 35 points with low shooting percentages and more turnovers than assists, far from the expected impact in a deciding game.

The game also raised a moment of concern when Tatum temporarily left in the third quarter due to leg discomfort. Although he returned to the bench and downplayed the incident, the situation raised some unease. "Yes, you saw me go to the locker room and then to the bike. My leg was a bit stiff coming out in the third quarter, but seeing how the game was, we decided to give the starters some rest," he explained.

With the score already heavily in favor (88-65), coach Joe Mazzulla chose to surrender over ten minutes before the end, preserving energy for the all-or-nothing seventh game.

History, however, weighs heavily. Boston has eliminated Philadelphia in their last six playoff matchups, including three recent occasions in the Embiid era. Additionally, the 76ers have lost all 18 series in their history when trailing 3-1, a stat that adds pressure to a team aiming to change the narrative.

Despite positive vibes, coach Nick Nurse urged caution: "I think we played very well, but that doesn't matter too much. We've seen games like this before. It's just one game, one story. You're not going to go back and just flip a switch for it to happen again. We're going to have to work really hard, focus, prepare for adjustments, and give a huge effort. Winning two in a row and playing like today is good, but it doesn't really matter. Every game has its own story."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Sixers fuerzan el séptimo partido ante unos decepcionantes Celtics