Embiid overcomes pregame tumble, guides Sixers to 118-114 victory against Celtics

BOSTON — In a thrilling encounter, Joel Embiid bounced back from a pregame fall to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 118-114 triumph over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Embiid finished with 27 points and nine rebounds, showcasing his shooting prowess by connecting on 4 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc. The pivotal moment came when he made two free throws with just three seconds remaining, ensuring the 76ers held off a late surge from the Celtics.

Tyrese Maxey was instrumental in the victory, contributing a remarkable 33 points along with 12 assists. He was particularly effective during the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points, including a crucial layup that extended Philadelphia’s lead to seven with about a minute left in the game. On the opposing side, Caleb Martin also made a significant impact for Boston, netting 23 points with an impressive 7 of 9 accuracy from three-point range.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum led the scoring with 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while his teammates Jaylen Brown and Derrick White added 23 and 21 points, respectively. Interestingly, Boston showcased their holiday spirit by sporting red socks and leggings, complementing their traditional green jerseys.

In an unfortunate twist, Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, who has had an injury-plagued season with only nine games played, did not return for the second half due to an ankle injury.

**Takeaways**
For the 76ers, a healthy Embiid could signify a breakthrough against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. On the other hand, this loss marked the Celtics’ second consecutive defeat, something they had not experienced throughout the season until now.

**Key Moment**
Embiid’s resilience was on display as he fell and injured his ankle during warmups but still managed to play 31 minutes while wearing a protective black mask due to a sinus fracture. With two minutes left and the 76ers leading 108-105, he limped to the free-throw line after being fouled during a drive to the basket. He successfully converted both free throws and added two more with three seconds remaining, following a surge from the Celtics that narrowed a nine-point gap to just two points.

**Key Stat**
The Celtics faced their largest home deficit of the season during this matchup, trailing by as much as 16 points at 52-36 in the third quarter.

**Up Next**
The 76ers will continue their journey with a game against Utah on Saturday, marking the second stop on their six-game road trip. Meanwhile, the Celtics will play host to the Indiana Pacers on both Friday and Sunday.