NBA: Embiid returns to lead 76ers past Celtics
(REUTERS) – Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup on Tuesday (April 6) night and finished with 35 points and six rebounds to lead them to a 106-96 victory over the Celtics in Boston.
The Sixers swept the three-game season series with the victory and have won seven of their past eight meetings with the Celtics.
Embiid, who sat out Sunday’s loss to Memphis, played for the second time in Philadelphia’s past three games after sitting out the previous 10 games due to a bone bruise in his left knee.
Jayson Tatum was held scoreless in the first quarter, but finished with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists to lead the Celtics.
Embiid played just under 33 minutes and continued to dominate the Celtics, averaging 38.3 points and nine rebounds in their three meetings this season.
The Celtics, who are still awaiting the return of forward Tristan Thompson, were limited in what they could do to try to slow down Embiid when Robert Williams III got into foul trouble early.
Williams III picked up his third foul with 54.5 seconds left in the first quarter. He then fouled out with 9:29 left in the fourth and finished with four points and nine rebounds.
The Celtics led 35-31 with 8:59 left in the second quarter when the Sixers went on a 21-2 run sparked by three 3-pointers by Danny Green, who also stole an inbounds pass and scored quickly at the hoop during the run. Green shot 5-for-6 from beyond the arc and finished with 17 points.
Ben Simmons scored 12 points, and Furkan Korkmaz totalled 10 points off the Sixers bench.
Tobias Harris played nearly 34 minutes and finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Jaylen Brown finished with 17 points while Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker each scored 14 points.
Head coach Brad Stevens said pregame he expects Thompson, who has been out since March 14 due to health and safety protocols, to be able to return on Wednesday against the New York Knicks.
Boston was missing Evan Fournier due to the health and safety protocols, and Stevens doesn’t expect him back for the remainder of the week.
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