Joel Embiid scores 52, leads 76ers past Celtics 103-101

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid strengthenedhis MVP bid with 52 points and 13 rebounds, and the NBA scoringleader carried the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-101 win over theBoston Celtics on Tuesday night.

In a game with a playoff vibe, this one came down to the end, asJayson Tatum’s tying jumper fell short at the horn.

P.J. Tucker gave Embiid and the Sixers the help they needed whenhe made three late 3-pointers that turned a one-point deficit intoa 101-95 lead. Derrick White buried a 3 with 2 seconds left thatpulled Boston to 103-101 and hushed a crowd that had just bellowed“MVP! MVP!” chants. Embiid was whistled for an offensive foul butthe Celtics couldn’t capitalize.

The 76ers avoided a season sweep against the Celtics and won forthe first time in four games. They can thank the All-Star centerthat punctuated the victory with a vicious two-handed slam late inthe game that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Embiid made 20 of 25 shots from the floor and 12 of 13 freethrows en route to his ninth game of the season with at least 40points and 10 rebounds. Embiid scored 50 points for the third timethis season.

James Harden had 20 points and 10 assists.

White scored 26 points for the Celtics and Tatum had 19. TheCeltics fell to 9-4 this season without Jaylen Brown, the team’ssecond-leading scorer who got the night off with a back injury.

Embiid responded to the chants that rained down on him byplaying early like a one-person show. Embiid got the 50-pointeffort going from the jump and made 6 of 7 from the floor and 6 of7 from the free throw line for 18 points in the first quarter. Therest of the team missed 8 of 12 shots and did not attempt a freethrow.

As the season winds down, the same questions loom for the Sixersjust as they did at the start of the season: Can Embiid and Hardenstay healthy in the playoffs? Both are battling nagging injuries;Embiid, his right calf, and Harden, a sore left Achilles tendon.The second, perhaps more pressing one: Who will step up and joinEmbiid and Harden as consistent playoff performers?

Without the help needed from Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris andsome production off the bench, the Sixers could be doomed to yetanother 50-win, second-round exit this season. The Sixers haven’tadvanced to the Eastern Conference finals since 2001 and anotherearly flameout this season could lead to an offseason of upheavalin Philly.

Not if Embiid can help it.

The Celtics are trying to wrest the No. 1 seed in the East fromMilwaukee while the 76ers are pretty much locked in for the thirdseed.

RIVALRY GAME? RIVALRY GAME!

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla brushed aside a suggestion the 76erswere a rivalry game.

“It’s not a rivalry game for me in the sense of, I just want towin,” Mazzulla said.

Oh. Well, in his defense, it’s his rookie year on the bench.Even Doc Rivers had to learn early in his tenure when he coachedBoston how much the game meant to each city. Rivers said after oneearly loss in Philly, he gave broadcaster Tom Heinsohn a ride fromthe airport. The late Celtics great had some stern advice forRivers.

“Don’t ever lose to Philly again,” Rivers said with a laugh. “Henever said anything like it to me. I was new to it. It wasn’t arivalry for me at the time. I kind of got the message that thesetwo cities like beating each other.”

TIP-INS

Celtics: Hit 15 3-pointers.

76ers: Embiid’s 24 points in the first half gave him 2,134 onthe season, the most for an NBA center since Shaquille O’Nealscored 2,344 for the Lakers in 1999-2000.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Toronto on Wednesday.

76ers: Play their home finale Thursday against Miami.