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Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse reacts during a key sequence in Game 3 that sparked controversy following a foul call involving Adem Bona and Jayson Tatum.
The Philadelphia 76ers walked off their home floor believing Game 3 slipped away not just because of execution, but because of a pivotal fourth-quarter sequence that shifted momentum.
Following a 108-100 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday, coach Nick Nurse pointed to a controversial play involving Jayson Tatum and Adem Bona.
“I thought the Bona fifth was really probably could have been let go,” Nurse said. “And I think Tatum traveled before it anyway.”
The moment came with 8:22 remaining and Philadelphia holding an 85-84 lead. Bona was whistled for his fifth foul, forcing him to the bench and removing a key interior presence.
Before foul trouble, Bona had been one of Philadelphia’s most effective players.
He finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks, anchoring the defense and providing energy around the rim.
More telling was his impact on game flow: the Sixers outscored Boston by nine points during his 22 minutes — the best plus-minus among any player in Nurse’s rotation.
Once Bona exited, the balance shifted quickly.
Boston responded with an 8-0 run to take a 92-85 lead with 5:39 remaining — a stretch that ultimately decided the game.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took over in the fourth, combining for 19 of the Celtics’ 29 points in the period.
The Sixers made one final push.
Philadelphia trimmed the deficit to 103-100 in the final minute, giving themselves a chance to complete the comeback. But Tatum answered with a dagger 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining, effectively sealing the win for Boston.
While Nurse questioned the officiating sequence, he also acknowledged Philadelphia’s own mistakes.
“I thought we made a few mistakes that you just can’t make probably in these games,” he said.
The Sixers allowed Boston to score 29 points in the fourth quarter, with defensive breakdowns and missed rotations compounding the impact of Bona’s absence.
Without Bona anchoring the paint, Boston was able to attack more freely, forcing help defense and creating open perimeter looks.
The trend remained clear: the team that wins the 3-point battle wins the game.
Boston knocked down 20-of-47 from deep, while Philadelphia went just 12-of-35, struggling to match the Celtics’ late shot-making.
“They did make some pretty heavily contested ones, especially late,” Nurse said.
Philadelphia again played without Joel Embiid, who continues to recover from an appendectomy. He was upgraded to doubtful but was ultimately ruled out two hours before tip-off.
Nurse said Embiid “was not ready yet.”
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 31 points, but the absence of a dominant interior presence became more pronounced after Bona’s foul trouble.
With Boston now leading the series 2-1, Game 4 becomes critical.
A loss would send Philadelphia back to Boston facing a 3-1 deficit — a steep climb against a team that has already shown its ability to close.
For the Sixers, the path forward is clear: execute late, control momentum and avoid letting another pivotal moment slip away.
Because in Game 3, they had the game under control — until one sequence changed everything.
Alder Almo is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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