Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Wednesday evening, however the host Boston Celtics acquired a game-high 25 factors from Jaylen Brown and pulled even within the best-of-seven sequence by incomes a 121-87 victory.
The second-seeded Celtics led by eight at halftime and took management of the sport within the third quarter, once they outscored the third-seeded 76ers 35-16 to take a 92-65 benefit into the fourth.
Malcolm Brogdon got here off the bench to toss in 23 factors for the Celtics, who gained despite the fact that main scorer Jayson Tatum completed the sport with seven factors in 19 minutes. Marcus Smart (15 factors), Derrick White (15) and Grant Williams (12) additionally scored in double figures for Boston, which made 20 of its 51 (39.2 p.c) 3-point makes an attempt.
Embiid, who was named the NBA’s MVP on Tuesday, sprained his lateral collateral ligament on April 20 throughout Game 3 of Philadelphia’s first-round sequence towards the Brooklyn Nets. He did not play in Game 4, when the 76ers accomplished a four-game sweep of the Nets. He additionally sat out Philadelphia’s 119-115 Game 1 victory over Boston on Monday.
Embiid completed Game 2 with 15 factors and 5 blocks in 27 minutes. He gained a second straight scoring title by averaging 33.1 factors per sport in the course of the common season.
Tobias Harris led Philadelphia with 16 factors. James Harden, who scored 45 factors in Game 1, scored 12 in Game 2. The 76ers had been 6 of 30 (20 p.c) from behind the 3-point arc.
The Celtics led 28-22 after one quarter and elevated their result in 12 factors—their largest lead of the primary half—when an Al Horford 3-pointer made it 50-38 with 4:41 left within the second quarter. The 76ers missed 12 of their 13 3-point makes an attempt within the first half and trailed 57-49 coming into the third quarter.
Boston cruised from there, main by as a lot as 36.
The sequence will proceed with Game 3 in Philadelphia on Friday.
—Field Level Media/Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
