The Philadelphia 76ers head to TD Garden on Tuesday night needing a win to keep their season alive, while the Boston Celtics can close out the Eastern Conference first-round series in Game 5.
Boston leads 3-1 after Sunday’s 128-96 Game 4 win, and the momentum has shifted hard after the Celtics took Games 3 and 4 by a combined 60 points. Philadelphia responded with a Game 2 road win, but it now has to produce its best 48 minutes of the series to force another return trip to Boston.
The injury report gives Philadelphia at least some stability. Joel Embiid is listed as probable as he continues to recover from appendectomy surgery, while Tyrese Maxey is available despite a strain and splint designation.
That matters because the 76ers’ playoff offense has run through those two when they are on the floor. Maxey is averaging 25.8 points, 7.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds in the series, and Embiid put up 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in his lone postseason appearance so far.
Philadelphia also needs better support around its stars. Paul George is averaging 17.5 points and shooting 58.8 percent from three, but the Sixers have been too turnover-prone and too inconsistent to sustain long scoring runs against Boston’s depth.
The Celtics, meanwhile, enter with a clean bill of health and a clear edge in series control. Jayson Tatum is averaging 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.5 assists, while Jaylen Brown has been even more explosive at 26.8 points per game with a 47.8 percent mark from three.
Boston’s perimeter balance has also been a major separator. Payton Pritchard is giving the Celtics 15.8 points per game off the bench, and Neemias Queta has provided efficient frontcourt minutes with 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds.
If Embiid is active and Maxey is close to full strength, Philadelphia has a chance to force the Celtics into a deeper series. If not, Boston has every ingredient in place to finish the job at home.
