Getty

Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers

The Boston Celtics won a physical and demanding Game 3 in Philadelphia on Friday night, holding off a spirited 76ers push to take a 2-1 series lead. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each finished with 25 points, and a clutch Tatum three sealed a 108-100 win that gave Boston control of the series.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Philadelphia. The Celtics are healthy. The 76ers may not be playing shorthanded much longer.

The latest Joel Embiid update ahead of Game 4 is the most significant development of the series so far.

The Latest on Embiid’s Return

Embiid remains listed as doubtful for Game 4, his second straight game with that designation following his emergency appendectomy on April 9. But the direction has shifted meaningfully since the last update.

Coach Nick Nurse confirmed Saturday that Embiid has been putting in significant work on the court individually. When pressed on his availability for Sunday, Nurse was measured but left the door open.

“Maybe we’ll know more towards the end of shootaround,” Nurse said.

Embiid averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds across 38 regular season appearances. In the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals against Boston, he averaged 25.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Having him available transforms what Philadelphia is capable of at both ends.

Kelly Oubre Jr. has also been added to the injury report with right adductor soreness and is listed as questionable. The veteran forward has averaged 13 points per game in this series.

Celtics Enter Game 4 at Full Strength

Boston heads into Sunday without a single player on the injury report. Both Brown and Derrick White picked up knocks during Game 3. White took a blow to the neck in the opening minute and Brown turned his ankle in the fourth quarter. Both stayed on the floor and confirmed afterward that they were fine.

The Celtics have home court advantage locked in regardless of Sunday’s result. Winning in Philadelphia would put Boston one win from the second round.

What Game 3 Showed

Friday’s win illustrated the experience and depth this Celtics team carries into big moments. Brown addressed the tone of the game after the final buzzer.

“You get hit, you’ve got to hit back,” Brown said.

Boston trailed 85-84 in the fourth quarter with the Philadelphia crowd fully engaged. Tatum and Brown connected on seven of their nine attempts in the fourth quarter to close it out. White’s offensive rebound gave Tatum the ball on the right arc and he buried the three to push the lead to six with 25 seconds remaining.

White had connected on just one three-pointer from eight attempts and three shots overall from twelve on the night, but his rebound on that possession was the play that mattered most.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 31 points. Rookie VJ Edgecombe, who had 30 points in Game 2, managed just 10 on Friday hitting five of seventeen attempts.

GettyJayson Tatum rises over Tyrese Maxey for a key jumper as the Celtics close out Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Final Word for the Celtics

The Celtics lead this series 2-1 and enter Game 4 healthy and confident. The 76ers are moving in the right direction on Embiid, but remains doubtful for Game 4.

If he returns, the series changes. Boston knows that and has been preparing for it.

The series is Boston’s to control. Sunday will test whether they can hold it. Game 4.