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Sixers Stifle Celtics 113-97, Embiid 33, Trail 3-2

4/30/2026

25 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Embiid Powers Victory

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 on April 29 2026, cutting the series to 3-2.
Joel Embiid scored 33 points with eight assists in 39 minutes, leading a Sixers 28-11 run in 12 minutes.
Game 6 returns to Philadelphia Thursday night, with Boston making only 11 of 39 three-point attempts, missing its 14 shots—the longest playoff closing-miss streak since 2005, and with Sixers needing a win to force Game 7.

Summary

Embiid Returns

Joel Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy on April 9 and returned to the court 19 days later for Game 5.
He denied media claims that he is “lazy,” saying he wants to play, give his all, and enjoy each moment on the floor.
Embiid listed injuries—from a 2018 orbital fracture to 2024 Bell’s palsy—while teammates Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes said his return gave the Sixers a major emotional lift.

History

Historical Context

The Bulls' 1998 NBA Finals victory, clinched by Michael Jordan’s game-winning jumper on June 14, 1998, marked the franchise’s sixth title in eight years and Jordan’s final shot as a Bull. That dramatic comeback echoed earlier playoff returns, such as Jordan’s 1997 “Flu Game,” establishing a pattern where star players’ rapid recoveries can swing series momentum.

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Embiid Powers Victory

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 on April 29 2026, cutting the series to 3-2.
Joel Embiid scored 33 points with eight assists in 39 minutes, leading a Sixers 28-11 run in 12 minutes.
Game 6 returns to Philadelphia Thursday night, with Boston making only 11 of 39 three-point attempts, missing its 14 shots—the longest playoff closing-miss streak since 2005, and with Sixers needing a win to force Game 7.

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