Celtics edge Sixers in OT thriller, near NBA playoff sweep

PHILADELPHIA, United States (UPDATED) – Jayson Tatum fired 24 points and Al Horford made big plays on both ends as the Boston Celtics slipped past the Philadelphi 76ers in overtime, 101-98, to move within a win of a finals berth in the NBA Eastern Conference on Saturday, May 5.

Horford buried the go-ahead lay-up that gave the Celtics a 99-98 lead with 5.5 seconds left in the extra period. The Celtics forward later made a key defensive stop, then sealed the win with two free throws that gave Boston a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

“These are the kind of moments you want to be in as a basketball player,” Horford said.

At 20 years old, Tatum also wound up as the youngest NBA player to score at least 20 points in 5 consecutive playoff games 

A Marco Belinelli basket and a J.J Redick 3-pointer put the Sixers up 94-87, but the Celtics closed on a 12-4 run, with Horford scoring the final five points to bring Boston the victory.

Terry Rozier had 18 points, Jaylen Brown came off the bench to add 16, while Horford contributed 13 points for the Celtics.

Joel Embiid had 22 points and 19 rebounds to lead the 76ers, while Redick added 18 points and Aussie playmaker Ben Simmons contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.

A steal by Rozier set up a basket by Brown that gave the Celtics an 89-87 lead with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation time, but the 76ers equalized when Italy’s Belinelli sank a jumper off a pass from Simmons with 0.3 of a second remaining, sending the contest into overtime. 

The Sixers fans went into a wild celebration as confetti shot out of a cannon that made it rain over the arena. But the celebration turned out to be premature as the game was only headed into overtime.

A Belinelli basket and a Redick 3-pointer put the Sixers up 94-87 in overtime, but the Celtics closed on a 12-4 run, with Horford scoring the final 5 points to bring Boston the ultimate victory. – Rappler.com