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Sixers Rout Celtics 113-97; Embiid Returns with 33

4/30/2026

Summary

Sixers Blowout

Sixers beat Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 on April 29 2026, setting largest playoff win after trailing by one point entering the fourth.
Embiid, back 19 days after an emergency appendectomy, had 33 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Maxey posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Grimes added 18 points and four three-pointers.
Boston shot 3-for-22 and 11-of-39 from three, with Tatum (24) and Brown (22) each managing two fourth-quarter points.

Summary

Celtics Favored

BetMGM lists Boston as -225 moneyline, 5.5-point favorite, with a 212.5-point total.
Game 6 starts at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, April 30, 2026, on Peacock and NBC Sports nationwide.
NBA 2K26 simulation predicts a Celtics win, 114-109, with Boston shooting 59% versus Philadelphia’s 45% and recording 10 steals, 4 turnovers to Philadelphia’s 8 steals, 7 turnovers.
The 76ers carry a +185 moneyline, implying roughly a 38% chance to win and offering value for bettors.

History

Historical Context

In June 1998 the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 87-86 in Game 6, delivering the NBA’s highest-rated Finals ever (35.9 million viewers) and sparking intense betting interest. That commercial breakthrough set a template for star-driven matchups, a pattern echoed in the 2026 Eastern semifinals as Joel Embiid’s 76ers face Jayson Tatum’s Celtics, with Boston listed at –225 odds.

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Sixers Blowout

Sixers beat Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 on April 29 2026, setting largest playoff win after trailing by one point entering the fourth.
Embiid, back 19 days after an emergency appendectomy, had 33 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Maxey posted 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Grimes added 18 points and four three-pointers.
Boston shot 3-for-22 and 11-of-39 from three, with Tatum (24) and Brown (22) each managing two fourth-quarter points.

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