Apr 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) and forward Paul George (8) defend against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second half during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Thursday will be the biggest game the Sixers' organization has played in a few years as they will be trying to prolong their best-of-seven series with the Boston Celtics. A win would tie the series at 3-3 and send it back to Boston for a deciding seventh game. A loss ends the Sixers' tumultuous season.
Let's take a look at some of the keys to Thursday's game.
No, it's not imperative for the Sixers to jump out to a huge lead early, like the Celtics did in Game 4 here on Sunday, which turned into a 32-point blowout. But the Sixers need to be competitive throughout the first half. They have lost both games at home in this series, and they need to feel the confidence early on that they will battle the Celtics for 48 minutes.
This really has been one of the biggest deciding factors of this series so far, Boston's ability to make threes. When they do, 32-point blowouts, which has happened twice in this series, is on the table. When they aren't falling, the Sixers have a legitimate chance. The past two games couldn't have been more polar opposite in lending evidence. Sunday, the Celtics drained 24-of-53 threes, many of the wide-open variety, in dancing to a 128-96 win. Tuesday in Boston, the Sixers held the Celtics to 11-of-39 from beyond the arc, and it lent to a 16-point win for Philadelphia.
"The Celtics are going to a Game 7. The Knicks are closing out the Hawks tonight." @stephenasmith wholeheartedly believes in his playoff predictions for the games tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/Q8wCI94X3R
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 30, 2026
Boston is terrific at drive and kicks, and Sunday the Sixers were caught helping too much on dribble-drives, thus leaving too many open players hanging out on the perimeter. Tuesday they did a much better job of helping and recovering on pick and rolls and not getting so caught up in help on penetrations. That can't stop in Game 6. It will be evident early. It's not that the Sixers want to give up easy drives, but forcing Boston to try to finish at the rim as opposed to lining up from long distance may be more ideal.
This is a two-fold problem for the Sixers. As Tyrese Maxey said after Game 4, Boston seems to convert a basket almost every single time that they snare an offensive rebound, and a lot of the time the conversion is a three-pointer. It is as demoralizing as it is hurtful on the scoreboard. The mental aspect for the Sixers on Thursday is as important as the physical.
Also, when the Sixers rebound efficiently at the defensive end, it allows them more of an opportunity to get out and run and create more open space for the likes of Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and sub Quentin Grimes. Easier baskets are always welcomed in a playoff series, and the Sixers need to get their speedy and athletic guards out into open space.
Joel Embiid, in just his second game back from appendix surgery, was simply unstoppable on Tuesday as he went for 33 points and eight assists. Embiid did all of his damage inside the three-point line, hitting mid-range jumpers and taking defenders into the lane all night long. Don't think Boston doesn't have a plan to limit that. Double-teams almost certainly will be the norm on Thursday, as they'll look to force Embiid to make good decisions out of them. Most likely, the Celtics will bring the double from Embiid's blind side, making his decision-making even more important. Should he be able to consistently find the open man, it is then incumbent for the Sixers to make those open shots. Embiid's ball-handling early in the game warrants watching. If it's good and the Sixers are making shots, it could make for a tough night for the Celtics defense.
Boston is one of the best run organization's and well-coached teams in the league. They know how to win through scheme but they are also terrific in the mental part of the game. The know how and when to draw fouls. They can agitate, take players and teams out of their games. It is incumbent for the Sixers not to get lulled into that. There can't be unnecessary fouls, especially on three-point attempts. There can't be a decided advantage for Boston in getting 50-50 balls. The Sixers have to treat each and every possession as if it is the most important of the game. That is how slim the room for error is in a game like this for the home team.
Barring foul trouble or some other circumstance, it wouldn't be surprising if all the Sixers starters wind up playing close to 40 minutes if the game warrants. It's just how it has to be. Quentin Grimes will get his 20 minutes off the bench and Andre Drummond, and maybe Adem Bona, will eat up the minutes when Embiid is off the floor, but it will mostly be a starter's night. Boston will most likely go eight or nine deep. The Sixers will have to keep a keen mind on their assignments when Boston is shuffling players and the Sixers are not. There can be no lapse in how it's designed to play against certain Boston rotations.
