Neemias Queta's Celtics Collapse Keeps 76ers Alive

The Boston Celtics suffered a 97-113 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, missing an opportunity to clinch their spot in the second round of the NBA playoffs. This defeat allowed their opponents to narrow the series deficit to 2-3.

Neemias Queta saw extended minutes this time, playing 26 minutes despite accumulating five fouls. He finished with 8 points (4-of-8 from the field, 0-of-2 from the free-throw line), 14 rebounds (five offensive), and 1 assist. However, he couldn't contain the opposing star, though he performed notably better than Vucevic.

Joel Embiid delivered a stellar performance in his second game back from injury (having undergone emergency appendectomy three weeks prior), leading the Philadelphia team with 33 points. After a quiet start with just two points in the first quarter, Embiid exploded for 13 points in the second, 10 in the third, and 8 in the final quarter, where the Sixers secured the win with a decisive 12-0 run.

Despite trailing by 11 points in the second quarter and 13 at the start of the third, the 76ers mounted a comeback. Philadelphia, still down 85-86 at the beginning of the final period, seized the lead with a Paul George three-pointer. From that point, they dominated the game, closing with a crucial 19-5 run.

The Celtics managed only 11 points in the fourth quarter (while conceding 28), hitting just three field goals on 22 attempts (1-of-14 from beyond the arc). Neemias cut the deficit to 94-97 with 7 minutes remaining, but it took another five minutes for Jaylen Brown (22 points) to score again, this time from the free-throw line, making it 96-109. Immediately after, Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters, already looking ahead to Game 6.

"When you have empty possessions, one after another, and you can't get defensive stops, it's frustrating," commented Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. Jayson Tatum (24 points and 16 rebounds) was Boston's leading scorer.

The series now shifts back to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Friday morning, where the Celtics will have another chance to close out the series. If necessary, Game 7 will be played in Boston on Saturday.

In the two other games of the night, the San Antonio Spurs secured their spot in the Western Conference semifinals by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks took a 3-2 series lead against the Atlanta Hawks with a 126-97 victory at Madison Square Garden.