Philadelphia, PA (Betting Express) - The underdog Philadelphia 76ers have some
fight left in them, forcing a deciding Game 7 in the Eastern Conference
semifinals with an 82-75 victory over the cold-shooting Boston Celtics.
The eighth-seeded Sixers missed 11 free throws, hit just 1-of-9 from three-
point range and were outrebounded 48-37, but nevertheless pulled out a gutty
Game 6 win by holding Boston to 33 percent shooting and forcing 17 turnovers.
Philadelphia had five players reach double figures -- led by Jrue Holiday's 20
points -- but it was its defense that has the series headed back to Boston for
a winner-take-all battle on Saturday.
"They had a lot of energy tonight...and I just think they outplayed us,"
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said of the Sixers. "We had a lot of empty
possessions offensively."
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett provided 24 and 20 points, respectively, for the
Celtics, who stayed close by making 20-of-23 from the foul line.
Brandon Bass regressed with an eight-point effort on 2-of-12 shooting just two
days after his 27 points sparked Boston to a 101-85 rout and a series lead.
The Sixers, who have not lost consecutive games this postseason, turned things
around in the third quarter Wednesday and held a 60-56 lead heading into the
fourth.
Consecutive baskets by Holiday early in the frame sparked a seven-point run
that extended the margin to 70-59, and the closest Boston got from there was
six, 78-72 in the final minutes.
Ray Allen, in the starting lineup due to the injury to Avery Bradley, had a
chance to cut the deficit to three, but missed a wide open three-pointer from
the right wing.
Andre Iguodala grabbed the rebound and made two free throws at the other end
with 38.7 seconds left. Iguodala had missed four of his first five free throws
up to that point.
Pierce's three-pointer less than six seconds later kept Boston alive, but two
more free throws by Holiday essentially secured the hard-fought decision.
"We competed every possession. It was a battle," Sixers head coach Doug
Collins said. "Our guys did a really good job tonight."
Both offenses struggled in the first half, made evident by the Celtics leading
36-33 at the break despite making just 32 percent of their shots.
The Sixers missed nine straight attempts during their 11-point second quarter,
but took advantage of the Celtics failing to hit a field goal over the first 5
1/2 minutes of the third.
An 11-0 run, punctuated by Iguodala's slam over Pierce, gave the hosts a 46-41
advantage they never relinquished. Boston tied it on two occasions after the
highlight-reel dunk, but was never able to pull ahead.
Game Notes
Former Sixers great Allen Iverson presented the game ball to referee Joe
Crawford prior to tip-off...The last time the Sixers and Celtics played a Game
7 in the playoffs was 1982, with Philadelphia winning on Boston's home
court...Allen and Rajon Rondo each scored nine points for the Celtics, who got
11 rebounds from Garnett and 10 boards from Pierce...Sixers forward Elton
Brand recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards...Iguodala and
Evan Turner each scored 12, while Lou Williams added 11 to round out
Philadelphia's double-digit scorers...Philadelphia scored 26 more points in
the paint (42-16).
