Joel Embiid collected 37 points and a career-high 22 rebounds to go along with a late key block on Kyrie Irving as the host Philadelphia 76ers averted a season sweep by the Boston Celtics with a 118-115 victory on Wednesday night.
Love to see it. #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/qYT1wqjQpi
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019
Embiid also made a personal-best 20 free throws (on 21 attempts). Jimmy Butler scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter for the 76ers, who have won six in a row overall.
This dude's unreal… pic.twitter.com/8oChTFBrtR
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 21, 2019
Irving scored 16 of his 36 points in the first quarter for the Celtics, who fell short against Philadelphia for just the third time in the teams’ past 20 regular-season meetings.
Big time mood. pic.twitter.com/VqYogWlFxu
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019
Al Horford scored 22 points and Terry Rozier added 20 points off the bench for Boston, who saw guard Marcus Smart receive a flagrant-2 foul and an immediate ejection less than a minute into the third quarter following a two-handed shove into the back of Embiid.
Moment of the Night?
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019
You already know.@budweiserusa | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/X4kN70Vcgk
The Celtics also saw a nine-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter with Butler draining a trio of three-pointers in a three-and-a-half -minute stretch to forge a tie at 105.
The teams were deadlocked at 113 with 1:17 left before Ben Simmons’ driving lay-up and subsequent foul shot regained the lead for the 76ers with 40.8 seconds remaining.
Jimmy Butler knocks down the basket after Joel Embiid blocks Kyrie Irving during clutch time. Butler's 15 point 4th quarter helped the #76ers take the lead and close out the Boston Celtics. #NBA #NBATwitter #NBATwitterLive #CUsRise #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/IXQMCwikJ8
— Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) March 21, 2019
Irving’s floating jumper was blocked by Embiid with 30 seconds remaining, and Butler drilled a jumper at the other end to push the advantage to 118-113 and ice the game with 5.5 seconds left.
.@BenSimmons25 SPIKED IT 😳 pic.twitter.com/phaatgy07X
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019
*squints*
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019
yup, issa a bucket.@MountainDew | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/BYAMTfjHpd
As intense as it gets.@RothmanOrtho | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/SqhDnUj5Rx
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 20, 2019
That’s Mr. Buckets to you.@JimmyButler | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/tEkDrqAf8b
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019
.@JoelEmbiid dominated with 37 points, 22 rebounds and 4 assists in the win over Boston! #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/NrSmfyry46
— * – Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 21, 2019