Embiid scores 33 as 76ers beat Celtics 113-97 to stave off elimination

Key facts

• Joel Embiid scored 33 points for the 76ers in Game 5.
• Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds.
• Philadelphia won 113-97 in Boston on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
• The Celtics lead the first-round series 3-2.
• Game 6 is Thursday night in Philadelphia.
• Embiid had an emergency appendectomy less than three weeks ago.
• Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds for Boston.

A season saved on the road

Joel Embiid scored 33 points and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 on Tuesday night, staving off elimination and forcing a sixth game in their first-round playoff series. Playing in Boston, the seventh-seeded Sixers cut the Celtics' series lead to 3-2. Tyrese Maxey contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Paul George added 16 points and nine rebounds.

Embiid's second-half dominance

Embiid, who returned less than three weeks after an emergency appendectomy, struggled early, scoring just two points on 1-of-6 shooting in the first quarter. But he erupted for 13 points in the second, 10 in the third and eight in the fourth. "He was dominant. Especially the second half, he was extremely dominant," Maxey said. "He did a really good job of just inserting himself. I was proud of him tonight, man. That's the dominance that you go into a playoff game with: He did that."

Celtics' defensive failures

Boston allowed Embiid too many easy baskets, who scored 22 points. "I feel like he had too many easy baskets," Brown said. "We've got to make him work.... Tonight he got a bunch of easy baskets, and I feel like that propelled him." Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds for Boston, and Neemias Queta added eight points and 14 boards. The Celtics had won Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia to take a 3-1 series lead.

The decisive run

The game turned in the fourth quarter when the Sixers unleashed a 12-0 run, turning a three-point lead into a 15-point advantage. Philadelphia never looked back, closing out the game comfortably. The victory keeps the 76ers' season alive and sends the series back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Thursday night. If necessary, Game 7 would be in Boston on Saturday.

Embiid's recovery and impact

Embiid's return from an emergency appendectomy has been remarkable. He missed the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, but in his second game back, he showed the form that made him the league's Most Valuable Player. His scoring outburst in the second half was the difference, as he consistently found ways to get to the rim and draw fouls. The Celtics struggled to contain him without sending help, which opened up opportunities for Philadelphia's shooters.

What lies ahead

The Celtics will try to close out the series in Philadelphia on Thursday, but the 76ers have momentum and home-court advantage for Game 6. Boston has not lost two consecutive games in the series so far. If Philadelphia forces a Game 7, it would be played in Boston on Saturday, where the Celtics have been strong all season. The 76ers, however, have proven they can win on the road, having just done so in Game 5.

The bottom line

• Joel Embiid's 33 points led Philadelphia to a 113-97 win in Game 5, cutting Boston's series lead to 3-2.
• Embiid scored 31 points in the final three quarters after a slow start, including a 12-0 run in the fourth.
• Tyrese Maxey had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points and nine rebounds.
• Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds for Boston, but the Celtics allowed too many easy baskets to Embiid.
• Game 6 is Thursday night in Philadelphia; Game 7, if needed, would be Saturday in Boston.
• Embiid returned less than three weeks after an emergency appendectomy, showing remarkable resilience.