Jayson Tatum hit a game-winning three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining to lift the Boston Celtics past the host Philadelphia 76ers, 110-107, on Saturday, February 25 (Sunday, February 26, Manila time).
Joel Embiid appeared to send the game into overtime with a 75-foot three-pointer, but the ball was ruled to be in his hands when the clock ran out.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points, Tatum added 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Derrick White had 18 points. Al Horford made five three-pointers for 15 points, Robert Williams III added 14, and Marcus Smart had 10.
After Tatum’s tip-in with 1:00 left, the Celtics went ahead 107-103.
Embiid was stellar with 41 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocked shots for his 14th career game with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
James Harden added 21 points, Tobias Harris had 19, and P.J. Tucker swept 16 rebounds, but the Sixers had their five-game winning streak snapped.
Harden and Embiid each hit two free throws in the final 46.1 seconds to temporarily tie the game at 107 before Tatum’s three-pointer.
After Embiid had the ball stolen, Brown bolted on the fastbreak and hit a layup for a 95-85 lead with 7:11 left in the fourth quarter.
Harden capped an 8-0 run with a layup with 4:09 left and the Sixers trailed 97-95.
Embiid knocked down a short jumper with 1:55 left in the second quarter and Harris received a pass from Embiid and scored 26 seconds later for a 56-49 lead.
The Sixers led 56-50 at halftime thanks in large part to 20 points from Embiid.
Brown led the Celtics with 16 and Tatum had only 4 on 2-of-6 shooting.
Harris hit a jumper and added a three-pointer in the opening minute of the third quarter for a 61-50 advantage.
The Sixers kept the pressure on and went ahead 67-52 following Harden’s trey with 8:21 left.
The Celtics then tightened defensively and went on a 7-0 run to close within 8. White’s tip-in off Tatum’s missed free throw closed the gap to 67-59.
Horford hit four straight three-pointers to cut the deficit to 78-77 with 1:19 remaining.
An 18-3 run gave the Celtics an 80-78 advantage at the end of the third. – Rappler.com
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