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Celtics Hold 3-1 Lead Ahead of Embiid ReturnCeltics Hold 3-1 Lead Ahead of Embiid Return

4/29/2026

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Summary

Celtics Host 76ers

The Boston Celtics host Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at TD Garden.
Boston leads 3-1 after a 128-96 Game 4 win, with Payton Pritchard 32 points and Jayson Tatum 30.
Joel Embiid returned from appendicitis in Game 4, posting 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 5 airs on ESPN, streams on the ESPN app, and features the Celtics, top defense (107.2 ppg), facing Atlanta or New York with the series extendable to Games 6-7.

Summary

Celtics Rebound Edge

Coach Joe Mazzulla received praise for his game-planning against Joel Embiid in the elimination matchup.
Boston will rotate Neemias Queta and Nikola Vucevic inside to contain Embiid in the paint.
The Celtics bench, anchored by Payton Pritchard, posted a +44 plus/minus, surpassing Philadelphia’s bench.
Boston averages 47.3 rebounds per game, a rebounding edge that could decide Game 5.

History

Historical Context

The Celtics won their 15th NBA title in 1984, defeating the Lakers 4-3 in a Finals that featured Larry Bird’s 23.8 points per game and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s MVP performance. Their rivalry with the 76ers includes a dramatic 1981 Eastern Conference Finals comeback from 3-1 down. That legacy of deep playoff runs frames the team’s current postseason expectations.

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Celtics Host 76ers

The Boston Celtics host Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at TD Garden.
Boston leads 3-1 after a 128-96 Game 4 win, with Payton Pritchard 32 points and Jayson Tatum 30.
Joel Embiid returned from appendicitis in Game 4, posting 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 5 airs on ESPN, streams on the ESPN app, and features the Celtics, top defense (107.2 ppg), facing Atlanta or New York with the series extendable to Games 6-7.

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