Tag: PJ Tucker

PJ Tucker shares a message to Sixers in prep for Game 6 vs. Celtics

PJ Tucker has a message for the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of Game 6 against the Boston Celtics at home.

BOSTON — The Philadelphia 76ers did their job on Tuesday. They went into TD Garden and defeated the Boston Celtics, 115-103, in Game 5 and lead the series 3-2. This series shifts back to Philadelphia with the Sixers looking to eliminate the Celtics and advance.

If the Sixers can do it, they will advance to their first Eastern Conference finals since the Allen Iverson days of 2001.

However, the Celtics are not going to lie down. They have been in tough situations as a group before. In the 2022 semifinals, they were in this position. They trailed the Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 after dropping Game 5 at home but they went on the road and won Game 6 before rolling in Game 7 back at home. The Sixers have to prepare for a heated battle.

“Even keeled, humble, hungry, and do the same things we’ve been doing,” said PJ Tucker when asked about his message to the Sixers. “I told everybody, we’re not excited. We expect to win, but at the same time, we respect our opponents, and we’re gonna come out and play hard because we know they are.”

Of course, it helps the Sixers will be headed home in this situation where they have been successful for a long time, but the Celtics are a veteran-tested bunch. This is going to be nothing new for them, and Tucker wants the Sixers to be ready.

Tucker faced this Celtics team in 2022 as a member of the Miami Heat and he knows firsthand how tough they can be.

“It feels good to get a chance to close out at home, but it’s not over,” Tucker warned. “We still gotta play. They’re gonna come, they’re gonna give us everything they got and it’s just one of those games that it’s gonna be emotional, but we got to keep our heads and stay focused and keep our mind on the goal.”

Game 6 is Thursday night from the Wells Fargo Center.

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Player grades: Joel Embiid leads Sixers over Celtics in pivotal Game 5

Joel Embiid leads the Philadelphia 76ers over the Boston Celtics in a pivotal Game 5 on the road.

BOSTON — The Philadelphia 76ers had been in this position before in a 2-2 series. They knew their history. They knew what they had done in the past.

It didn’t matter.

The Sixers invaded TD Garden on Tuesday night in a pivotal Game 5 with the Boston Celtics, and they dominated from start to finish in a 115-103 victory. Joel Embiid had 33 points, seven rebounds and four blocks putting the Sixers on the brink of reaching their first Eastern Conference finals since 2001.

James Harden added 17 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Tyrese Maxey had 30 points and seven rebounds, and Tobias Harris had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Danuel House Jr. added 10 points off the bench.

Here are the player grades following the win:

Joel Embiid, Sixers single out PJ Tucker for difference made for Sixers

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers single out PJ Tucker for the difference he’s made for the team.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers brought in free-agent PJ Tucker for moments like this.

The Sixers were down by five with 2:04 left in regulation and they needed somebody to light a spark.

That somebody was Tucker. His final stats will read six points and three rebounds, but he was instrumental in the 116-115 overtime win to tie the series at 2.

“That’s why we brought him here,” Joel Embiid said. “That’s how he killed us last year, offensive rebounds, big play after big play offensively and defensively, that’s who he is. He’s always ready for it. I’m just glad he’s on our side.”

The Sixers were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the 2022 semifinals because they were tougher and they were making the little plays the Sixers didn’t.

So Philadelphia stole the guy who was making those plays.

“You know the biggest difference?” coach Doc Rivers asked. “There was a guy named PJ Tucker on Miami. There’s a guy named PJ Tucker on our team now, and he got the offensive rebound and the 3-point play which was huge for us and helps everybody. So that’s part of it.”

James Harden knows Tucker the best. Both were teammates with the Houston Rockets and Harden had to face Tucker in the 2021 playoffs and the 2022 playoffs. Tucker’s Milwaukee Bucks eliminated Harden’s Brooklyn Nets in 2021 and Tucker’s Heat eliminated the Sixers in 2022.

“We were teammates so I know the work that he puts in,” Harden said of Tucker. “I know his will to win no matter what the stat sheet says, and I know how valuable he is. Going against him the last two postseasons, he’s somebody that loves to win and plays winning basketball. You need like that on your team if you’re trying to compete for a championship so he’s valuable.”

Everybody needs a Tucker on their team — a guy who does what needs to be done to win games and titles. There’s a reason the Bucks won the title with him in 2021.

“He’s the guy everybody needs on their team that doesn’t need the ball, that doesn’t complain, and gonna do all the small dirty work that a lot of guys don’t wanna do,” Harden finished. “Everybody wants to shoot and look pretty and dunk the ball, shoot the 3, get the ESPN highlights, but he’s a charge, diving on the floor, and picking up the best player. He does all that so he’s a great addition to our team and he’s very special.”

Now, the Sixers need Tucker to make a huge difference on Tuesday on the road in a pivotal Game 5 back in Boston.

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PJ Tucker explains his pep talk with Joel Embiid late in win over Celtics

PJ Tucker explains his firey pep talk to Joel Embiid late in a Game 4 win over the Boston Celtics for the Philadelphia 76ers.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers needed their MVP to step up in a big moment on Sunday afternoon in Game 4 with the Boston Celtics.

However, Joel Embiid did not have a great fourth quarter. He appeared to be running out of steam late Sunday afternoon. Embiid had a shot blocked by Al Horford, and the big fella was settling for shots he shouldn’t have been settling for.

Then, PJ Tucker stepped in. He walked right up to Embiid and very demonstratively was in his face trying to get him to wake up.

“Nobody can guard Joel one-on-one,” Tucker said. “There’s no way. I’m sorry. There’s not a disrespect to Al or anybody else, but I’ve guarded him for a lot of years, and when he’s aggressive and assertive, it’s impossible. I saw him two or three plays in a row not do that, and we can’t have that. We can’t have that. Not with the season on the line. We can’t have that.”

In the extra session, Embiid had four of the nine points Philadelphia scored as it won, 116-115. Tucker also had a big and-1 to tie the game at 105 in regulation. He gave the Sixers a huge boost with his toughness and his ability to make the little plays.

“Just will, determination, just wanting to win,” Tucker said. “I just got back in the game, so I had to leave an imprint somehow. Usually, it’s an offensive rebound in those moments when James (Harden), Joel, or Tyrese (Maxey) are attacking.”

Game 5 of this series is on Tuesday back in Boston.

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Player grades: James Harden leads Sixers over Celtics in Game 4 at home

James Harden leads the Philadelphia 76ers past the Boston Celtics in a critical Game 4 at home.

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers needed a win to keep themselves in this series with the Boston Celtics. After dropping Game 3 at home, they couldn’t afford to go down 3-1 with the series shifting back to TD Garden on Tuesday.

While the Celtics had a solid start to give the Sixers trouble, it was all Philadelphia from the start of the second quarter. While the Celtics made a late push to take a lead in the fourth, the Sixers turned to their Hall of Fame point guard.

James Harden was phenomenal. He had 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds after a stinker of a Game 3. Joel Embiid added 34 points and 13 rebounds in a 116-115 win in overtime. This series is tied 2-2 headed back to the TD Garden.

Tyrese Maxey had 14 points and eight rebounds. Tobias Harris had nine points and seven rebounds, and Georges Niang added nine off the bench.

Here are the player grades after the win:

Sixers’ PJ Tucker talks respect from opponents, future playing plans

Philadelphia 76ers veteran PJ Tucker discusses the respect he receives from opponents as well as his future playing plans.

PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia 76ers veteran PJ Tucker turned 38 years old on Friday which is usually an age where players begin to think about retirement.

However, Tucker is still going strong. He is not putting up big numbers, which has never been a big part of his long and successful career, but he still has his fingerprints all over games.

Tucker had nine points in the Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics and he made a lot of winning plays. Obviously, the Sixers came up short, but Philadelphia relies on him for spacing and to make all of the little plays in order to have success.

“He really works to have an emotional impact on the game and a series and he’s really good at it,” acknowledged Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “He just has an innate ability to really change the spacing of a half-court possession whether it’s with his screening, whether it’s with his relocation, he just does a great job of manipulating possessions without the ball.”

That is what’s special about Tucker. He doesn’t need the ball or put up big numbers in order to be effective.

“He’s a guy that you constantly have to pay attention to because of his ability to do that so between that and his physicality and his mindset,” Mazzulla added. “It’s definitely something we’re aware of.”

Tucker hears the respect he receives from opponents, but he doesn’t take pride in stuff like that. He just wants to win and have a long career.

“I’m not prideful in that manner,” Tucker said of the respect he receives. “The only pride is seeing guys my age and seeing Bron (LeBron James) still go, seeing CP (Chris Paul) still go, being in the same high school class. Being the only guys left from our high school class, being the only guys left from our class, that’s more of a pride thing, but as far as day-to-day basketball, nah.”

When asked if the goal is to outlast the likes of James and Paul, the Sixers veteran laughed and pointed out one key goal he has when it comes to his future plans.

“No, I told Bron, I’m not stopping till you do,” he laughed. “He wanna play with Bronny so I’m like ‘Alright, well, we’re gonna figure it out because I’m not stopping till you do. There’s no way.”

A lot of players take pride in being able to play at this late stage of their careers, but Tuker is more focused on being able to still play and contribute at this age.

“Once you get up there, it’s like ‘Alright’, but at the same time, you still gotta be able to play,” Tucker said with a laugh again. “You can have pride all you want. If you can’t play no more, then it’s kinda pointless.”

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Player grades: Celtics use balanced attack to beat Sixers in Game 3

The Boston Celtics used a balanced attack in order to knock off the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 on the road.

PHILADELPHIA–The scene was set for the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. They returned home with a 1-1 split in Boston, Joel Embiid was presented with his MVP award in an emotional moment before the game, and the Wells Fargo Center was a madhouse on Broad Street.

The game didn’t start off great as Boston started off red-hot on the offensive end and they built up a double-digit lead. They maintained a lead for the majority of the game, and while the Sixers fought back and even took a lead, they weren’t able to get it done. The Celtis walked away with an important 114-102 victory. Boston had six players score in double-figures.

Embiid had 30 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks to lead Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey had 13 points and six rebounds, PJ Tucker had nine, and De’Anthony Melton added 14 and eight rebounds. Tobias Harris had seven points and four boards while Harden had 16 on 3-for-14 shooting, 11 assists, and six rebounds with five turnovers.

Here are the player grades following the loss at home:

Player grades: Joel Embiid returns, but Sixers fall to Celtics in Game 2

Joel Embiid returned from injury, but the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 as the series is now 1-1.

BOSTON — With Joel Embiid back in the lineup, the Philadelphia 76ers were looking to get greedy on Wednesday night and take a 2-0 series lead with them back to the Wells Fargo Center.

The Boston Celtics were trying to get on the board in this series and give themselves a chance.

The Sixers, however, had a tough time finding a consistent offensive rhythm. They were getting good looks all night, but they weren’t able to take advantage of any of them. It led to a 121-87 Game 2 loss, leaving the series tied at 1. Philadelphia shot 6-for-30 from deep.

Embiid had 15 points on 4-for-9 shooting and five blocks in his return, James Harden had 12 points on 2-for-14 shooting and 10 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey had 13 points, and Tobias Harris had 16 points and seven rebounds.

Here are the player grades following the loss:

Multiple Sixers take to social media to react to Joel Embiid’s MVP award

Multiple Philadelphia 76ers players take to social media to react to Joel Embiid winning the MVP award.

Philadelphia 76ers star big man Joel Embiid finally earned his first MVP award after a dominant 2022-23 season. The big fella led the league in scoring, he was dominant on the defensive end and he was efficient in both his field goal percentage and his ability to get to the free-throw line. That efficiency allowed him to average 33.1 points per game.

Embiid ended up getting 73 first place votes while Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic had 15 and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12. All three players were more than worthy of winning the MVP award, but it was obvious that Embiid deserved the award after finishing as the runner-up two years in a row.

In the wake of Embiid’s MVP announcement, his teammates took to different social media sites to offer their congratulations and praise to the big fella. Some took to Twitter while some went to Instagram to celebrate their MVP leader.

Player grades: James Harden leads Sixers past Celtics in Game 1

James Harden goes off to lead the Philadelphia 76ers past the Boston Celtics in Game 1 on the road.

BOSTON — The Philadelphia 76ers visited the TD Garden to begin the Eastern Conference semifinals looking to steal a game without their best player, Joel Embiid. The Celtics, who took three out of four from Philadelphia in the regular season, are a big challenge in this postseason.

The Sixers stayed in this one despite Boston shooting a ridiculous 71.8% from the floor in the first half. Philadelphia was only down three at halftime. Eventually, James Harden led one helluva victory, 119-115, and Philadelphia took the 1-0 series lead. The Beard had 45 points on 17-for-30 shooting and six assists to lead Philadelphia.

De’Anthony Melton provided a big lift with 17 points off the bench. Tobias Harris added 18 points and five rebounds, and Tyrese Maxey had 26 points. Paul Reed had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Here are the player grades following the impressive win: