PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers had their opportunity on Friday to take control of this semifinal series with the Boston Celtics in Game 3 after they earned a 1-1 split on the road.
Returning home, Embiid was presented with his MVP trophy in an emotional ceremony before the game. The big fella had his family there and he was able to celebrate his huge accomplishment with them.
Then the game started and the Celtics did what they do. Boston jumped on them early and they built a double-digit lead in the first quarter. They led by as many as 13 on the night on their way to a 114-102 Game 3 victory and they were able to regain control in the series.
James Harden shot just 3-for-14 and had five turnovers on the night, Tobias Harris shot 3-for-6, and Tyrese Maxey shot 4-for-16. Joel Embiid had 30 points and 13 rebounds, but even he could have been better on this night.
“I think players have to show up,” Embiid said after the loss. “I gotta do my job. Other guys, everybody knows their role. They have to do their job. Players have to show up. Obviously, you can make any adjustments you want, but if the players don’t execute and they don’t show up and we don’t make shots, that’s on us. I just think that’s on us.”
The Celtics just wanted it more on Friday. They were diving on the floor for loose balls, they were getting after it on the defensive end, and they were getting to the big rebounds. That is on Embiid. That’s on Harris, Harden, PJ Tucker, everybody. They have to find a way to respond in Game 4.
“I got to be better,” Embiid added. “We all got to be better. We just haven’t been good enough the last few games. No sense of urgency, but it’s the small things. I think we’ve been fine guarding them in the halfcourt. It’s just those loose ball situations. Offensive rebounds, and then they knock down a 3 or they score off of it. It just changes everything.”
Game 4 is on Sunday afternoon from the Wells Fargo Center.
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