Kelly Oubre Jr. Leads 76ers To Playoff Upset Over Celtics
Kelly Oubre Jr. Leads 76ers To Playoff Upset Over Celtics...
Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered a career-high 38 points Wednesday night, powering the Philadelphia 76ers to a stunning 114-110 Game 2 victory over the top-seeded Boston Celtics. The win ties the first-round playoff series at 1-1 as the teams head to Philadelphia for Friday's Game 3.
The 30-year-old forward shot 12-of-21 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, while adding 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Oubre's performance came with reigning MVP Joel Embiid limited to 20 points due to lingering knee soreness.
Fans at TD Garden erupted in cheers for the visiting team as Oubre sealed the win with two clutch free throws in the final seconds. The victory marks Philadelphia's first playoff win in Boston since 2018 and instantly became the top-trending NBA topic on social media platforms.
Oubre's breakout game comes after a challenging regular season where he averaged 15.4 points per game. The seven-year veteran signed a one-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia last summer following stints with Golden State and Charlotte.
The Celtics, who posted the NBA's best regular-season record (64-18), now face unexpected pressure in the series. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged Oubre's impact postgame: "We had no answer for him tonight. He made tough shots all over the floor."
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse praised Oubre's two-way effort: "Kelly brought the energy we desperately needed. His defense on [Jayson] Tatum in the fourth quarter was just as important as his scoring." The 76ers improved to 5-0 this season when Oubre scores 25+ points.
Sportsbooks immediately adjusted series odds following the upset, with Boston's championship odds dropping from +180 to +220 at DraftKings. The game drew 11.2 million viewers on TNT, making it the most-watched NBA playoff game so far this postseason.
Oubre's performance sparked immediate MVP chants from Philadelphia fans on social media, with #KellyOubreJr trending nationwide on Twitter. The 76ers will look to build momentum when the series shifts to Wells Fargo Center for Game 3 on Friday night (7:30 PM ET, ESPN).
