Celtics ruin Joel Embiid MVP celebration with Game 3 victory over 76ers

Jason Tatum scored 27 points, Jaylen Brown 23, and Boston Celtics ruined Joel Embiid’s MVP crowning by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-102 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Game 4 Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Game 2 with a sprained right knee after receiving the MVP Trophy at the pregame ceremony.

Once again, Boston gave 76ers fans little to celebrate.

The Sixers worked within five of a three-pointer from De’Anthony Melton to get the crowd back in the game for the full 20 seconds before Malcolm Brogdon called back with a three-pointer to give Boston a 100–92 lead. Al Horford smashed the 66ers again—as he had for most of his career—when he dug in a three and had a seven-point lead.

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Jason Tatum celebrating

#0 Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics celebrates defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Embiid, forced to try to win on his own without any major offensive help, missed an 18-foot pull-up and Tatum exhausted the jumper, nearly ending the game. Tatum hit another triple just in case, and the Celtics seized control of the series.

Embiid was surrounded by his parents and teammates when he received the MVP Trophy from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver before Game 3. Sixers fans roared as Embiid held the trophy high above his head. Then the moment became touching. Embiid’s little son, Arthur, ran out into the yard and fell into his father’s arms.

Embiid held his son, who was wearing a ‘My dad is the best player’ T-shirt, and wiped tears from his eyes as fans chanted ‘The best player! The best player!”

“Honestly, he’s the main reason I’m really here,” Embiid said. “Becoming a father really changed my whole life. I just wanted to set a good example for him.”

The good times didn’t last long.

Boston stepped up any emotional transfer after the ceremony and quickly took a 10-point lead.

Sixes spent the rest of the game chasing. All the energy that had been expended to bounce back and capture a brief lead quickly evaporated, and the Celtics promptly brought them back.

Embiid bravely tried to keep the Sixers on one good knee, but got little help from James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. Harden’s 45-point run in a poor first game in Boston seemed more of an aberration than a sign of things to come. Harden followed up his 2-for-14 in Game 2 with a 3-for-13 toss for 16 points.

Jaylen Brown is celebrating

#7 Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics celebrates with #12 Grant Williams and #42 Al Horford against the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on May 5, 2023 at Philadelphia. , Pennsylvania. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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Harden failed to pick up the Sixers in the third when he could have changed the game.

He hit PJ Tucker to win a triple, leaving the 66ers 74–72. Harden then missed two straight shots and fouled Brown due to a hard layup. Brown hit a free throw and the Celtics pulled back eight.

What was odd for the 76ers was that Harden also turned down a lot of simple looks and downtime. He also made five rotations.

Embiid scored 53 points against the Celtics in an early April game but failed to qualify in Game 3. The Celtics had beaten Embiid on two teams from the start, and by the end of the third, he looked exhausted. Without a teammate to trust with shots, Embiid took on the scoring load and scored 12 points in the third when he played the full quarter.

COACH ROOM

Boston’s Grant Williams appeared to have been kicked in the head by a falling Embiid late in the game and had a bloody mouth.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Coach Joe Mazzulla was caught muttering “I’m the worst coach in the world” at the end of a video call on the weekend. Before Game 3, he said it was because he forgot to acknowledge Marcus Smart in the NBA Hustle Award tag team video show.

Jason Tatum running on the floor

Boston Celtics forward Jason Tatum (0) reacts after hitting a 3-pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter of Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center. (Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports)

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“We went through the entire filming session and I didn’t show him my appreciation,” he said. “I think (the media) asked me about it and my eyes lit up. I thought, “What an idiot.” When I finished, I just said, “Damn,” and then texted him right away.”

Sixers: Made 12 of 12 free throws in the first quarter.