Boston Celtics 97-113 Philadelphia 76ers, NBA 2026 Playoffs: Embiid Stars In Crucial Victory

Joel Embiid was even better in his second game back. And that was good enough for the Philadelphia 76ers to avoid elimination in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. Less than three weeks after an emergency appendectomy knocked Embiid out for the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, the Sixers center scored 33 points as Philadelphia beat Boston 113-97 in Game 5 on Tuesday night. After scoring two points in the first quarter on 1-of-6 shooting, Embiid scored 13 in the second, 10 in the third and eight in the fourth, when the Sixers went on a 12-0 run to turn a three-point lead into a 15-point run away.

Updated on: 29 April 2026 3:47 pm

Published at: 29 April 2026 3:47 pm

76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Quentin Grimes

Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes, left, knocks the ball free on a steal attempt against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Neemias Queta

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) pressures Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) pumps his fists after making a basket against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) heads to the bench while being taken out of the game late the second half while trailing the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) takes a shot over Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Tyrese Maxey

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) takes a shot over Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Payton Pritchard

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) tries to drive through the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) takes a 3-point shot over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, left, during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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76ers vs Celtics game 5 NBA Basketball playoffs-Jaylen Brown

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, in Boston. | Photo: AP/Charles Krupa