By: Kylan Watson

After falling to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night, the Philadelphia 76ers had another chance to get a statement victory over another rival in the loaded Eastern Conference. They faced the Boston Celtics in their regular season finale with both teams needing a win to secure a top three seed in the conference. Both squads went blow for blow, but Joel Embiid dropped a 50-piece to stifle Boston 103-101.

The Sixers jumped on Boston from the opening tip-off. They hit their shots early to put the Celtics on the defensive early in the game. Embiid scored 24 of his 52-points by halftime, he scorched Boston throughout this game. They had nobody available who could stop him tonight and they were allowing him to go one-on-one throughout most of the game and that was a recipe for disaster for them. When they chose to double team Embiid (52-points, grabbed 13-rebounds, and had six assists) found the open man in the corner for a three-pointer. He has become a much better passer and it was his passing ability towards the end of this game that allowed him to find PJ Tucker (11-points and hit three three-pointers tonight) three-times to keep the Celtics at bay tonight. If Embiid can continue to trust his teammates and make the right plays, the Sixers will be one of the most dangerous teams in the postseason. Additionally, this might be the best chance Philly has had to make the finals in the Embiid era.

On his clutch shooting and Embiid’s performance tonight, “I just try to help, however I can, every night… Joel has been the MVP of our team, and the league,” said Tucker.

Boston weathered the Embiid storm and fought their way back into this game. The duo Derrick White (26-points) and Jayson Tatum (18-points) led them tonight, they combined for 42 of the Celtics’ 101-points.  The biggest thing the Sixers did tonight was force somebody else not named Jayson Tatum to beat them tonight. He had silent 18-points because the Sixers refused to give him anything easy tonight. Of course, their defensive attention was mainly focused on him because his running-mate Jaylen Brown missed tonight’s game. Give the Sixers credit they didn’t give him any easy chances at the basket and nobody else but White answered the challenge to pick Tatum up.  Philly almost gave this game away as they played a little too aggressively towards the end of this game. Fouling White on a three-pointer that cut their eight-point lead to two and if it had not been for an Embiid and Harris double team on Tatum they may have gone to overtime tonight. Philly will have to clean that up if they want to beat Boston in the playoffs.

On what went right tonight, “What we did right was Joel Embiid. The MVP race is over…the man just scored half of our points in an NBA game,” said Sixers Head Coach Doc Rivers.

They will also have to find a way to get Tyrese Maxey going against the Celtics. They may need to feed him more on the offensive end. Tonight, him and Tobias Harris didn’t have it, but they will need to when they see the Celtics again later in the postseason. Before that the Sixers will face the Miami Heat on Thursday night and they will need to keep the ball moving on the offensive end. To take full advantage of another aggressive defense and find some high-percentage opportunities. Additionally, they will need to stay attached to their man and make sure the Heat see constant hands in their faces when they attempt a shot. If they can do these things, they can get their 53^rd victory of the season.