76ers Stun Celtics In Game 3 Overtime Thriller, Series Now 2-1
76ers Stun Celtics In Game 3 Overtime Thriller, Series Now 2-1...
The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a dramatic 112-109 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series Friday night. Joel Embiid's 30-point performance and Tyrese Maxey's clutch shooting in the final minutes electrified the Wells Fargo Center crowd and shifted momentum in the closely contested playoff battle.
With the win, the 76ers cut the Celtics' series lead to 2-1 and regained home-court advantage. The game trended nationally as fans reacted to multiple lead changes, controversial officiating decisions, and a thrilling overtime period that saw both teams exchange big shots until Philadelphia's final defensive stand.
Embiid, playing through a knee injury, delivered his best performance of the playoffs with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks. The MVP candidate hit a crucial turnaround jumper with 1:08 left in overtime that gave Philadelphia the lead for good. Maxey added 26 points, including a deep three-pointer that forced overtime with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.
Boston's Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 36 points but missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer. The Celtics struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 28% (10-36) as their normally reliable offense sputtered in crunch time. NBA fans flooded social media debating whether Boston coach Joe Mazzulla should have called timeout to set up a better final play.
The series resumes Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia for Game 4, where the 76ers will look to even the series before it shifts back to Boston. According to ESPN Stats & Info, teams that win Game 3 after trailing 2-0 go on to win the series 31% of the time in NBA history.
Friday's thriller marked the first overtime game in this year's conference semifinals and continued the intense rivalry between these division foes. The teams have met in the playoffs five times since 2018, with Boston holding a 3-2 edge in those series. Ticket prices for Sunday's Game 4 have surged 42% on secondary markets since Friday's result according to SeatGeek data.
NBA analysts highlighted Philadelphia's improved defensive adjustments, particularly their ability to limit Boston's transition opportunities after forcing 15 turnovers. The 76ers also won the rebounding battle 52-45, with veteran P.J. Tucker grabbing 7 offensive boards that led to critical second-chance points.
With both teams featuring championship aspirations, the series has become must-watch television for basketball fans. Game 3 averaged 8.6 million viewers across ESPN and ABC platforms, making it the most-watched NBA playoff game this season outside of the opening weekend according to Nielsen data.
