Everyone had already written off the Sixers. Down 3-1, looking absolutely cooked after getting blown out in Game 4, there was no way Philly was getting back into this series. Then Joel Embiid delivered 33 points, 8 assists, and pulled off a 113-97 Game 5 win, forcing a Game 6 and putting the Celtics on notice.
Dead In The Water, Or So We Thought
Before Game 5 even tipped off, it felt like a funeral was planned. I mean, the Celtics were even rocking their black uniforms, almost like they knew it was going to be an elimination party. Boston had absolutely stomped the Sixers in Game 1 and Game 4, and even though Game 3 was a brutal fight, the Celtics still won it. So, heading back to their home floor up 3-1, everyone just assumed this No. 2 seed was going to do what No. 2 seeds usually do to a No. 7 seed in the first round: close it out quick.
The big man himself, Embiid, missed the first three games of the series. When he came back in Game 4, he just didn’t look right at home. The chatter was loud, saying the former MVP returned too fast, especially after Philly managed to win Game 2 on the road and compete hard in Game 3 without him. Even through the first half of Game 5, nothing changed. Boston led 57-50 at the break, and conventional wisdom screamed that the Celtics would just pull away and finish the series, eliminating the Sixers for the fourth time since 2018. It was over. Done. Right?
Embiid’s Hidden Weapon: The Dime Dropper
But then, something happened at halftime. No clue what the coaching staff said, but the Sixers came out like a completely different squad in the second half. Embiid, suddenly recharged, led the charge as Philly absolutely dominated the final 24 minutes, holding Boston to a pathetic 11 points in the fourth quarter. Embiid’s stat line for the game was bananas: 33 points on 12-23 shooting from the field (he went 0-5 from deep, but who cares!), 4 rebounds, a block, and a plus-13 rating.
But seriously, the EIGHT assists? That’s the real story here. Those dimes were a total shocker and show exactly how they clawed their way back into a series that felt impossible. He was doing whatever he wanted inside the arc, scoring with ease, but he was also getting *everyone* involved. Four other Sixers hit double figures, and nobody besides Embiid even attempted more than 18 shots. Suddenly, after six straight quarters of getting outplayed, this team looked confident. They found their fire again.
Boston still holds the series lead at 3-2, but man, Embiid and the Sixers just ripped the lid off this thing. This might be the perfect storm to relight a flame that had been pretty dim for years, especially after losing that competitive seven-game series to the Celtics in 2023. We’ve seen a mediocre 2023-24 season, a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, and another mediocre year in 2025-26. No one believed Philly had it in them anymore. Now? This series just got wildly interesting. Can they keep this miracle run going and push it to seven games? You’ve gotta watch the next one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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