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NBA: Celtics spoil Embiid MVP moment, grab 2-1 playoff series lead

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (R) in action against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (L) during the first half of Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, May 3, 2023. CJ Gunther, EPA-EFE." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/05/06/050623_nba_bos-x-phi_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (R) in action against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (L) during the first half of Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinals series at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, May 3, 2023.<em> CJ Gunther, EPA-EFE.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- Jayson Tatum scored 27 points to lead six Boston players in double figures on Friday as the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-102 to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.</p><p>Jaylen Brown added 23 points and Al Horford scored 17 for the Celtics, who regained home court advantage with a second straight victory after dropping game one in Boston.</p><p>They kept the momentum going on an emotional night in Philadelphia, where Sixers center Joel Embiid accepted his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a pregame ceremony.</p><p>Embiid scored 30 points with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in his second game back from a sprained knee.</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hTzs3II9dw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>But teammates James Harden and Tyrese Maxey struggled. Harden connected on just three of 14 shots on the way to 16 points while Maxey scored 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting.</p><p>Geared up for the hostile environment at the Wells Fargo Center, the Celtics got off to a quick start, powering to a 14-4 lead.</p><p>Tatum, who scored just seven points in game two, bounced back with a vengeance adding 10 rebounds five assists, two steals and a blocked shot, putting up 10 points in the first fur minutes.</p><p>The Sixers, however, kept it close and led by one after the first quarter.</p><p>They couldn&#x27;t maintain momentum, however. They were down by seven at halftime and never led after the break.</p><p>Embiid&#x27;s tip-in basket with 3:51 remaining pulled Philadelphia within four points, but Horford responded with a three-pointer and Tatum sank a turnaround basket and the Celtics were up by nine again.</p><p>Philadelphia fans were soon heading for the exits, a disappointing end to a night that began with loud chants of &quot;M-V-P&quot; for Cameroon&#x27;s Embiid, who received his trophy with his parents standing by, and addressed spectators holding his toddler son, Arthur -- clad in a &quot;My dad is the MVP&quot; shirt.</p><p>&quot;Honestly, he&#x27;s the main reason why I&#x27;m really here,&quot; Embiid said &quot;Becoming a father really changed my whole life. I just wanted to show him a good example.&quot;</p><p>The Celtics made sure the feel-good moment didn&#x27;t last.</p><p>&quot;We knew we could win,&quot; Tatum told broadcaster ESPN. &quot;This is a great team, the crowd&#x27;s electric, you love being in that environment.</p><p>&quot;But we are not surprised. To win a championship you&#x27;ve got to win one on the road. We&#x27;ll take it.&quot;</p><p>In the second game of the day&#x27;s double-header, the Phoenix Suns aimed to turn things around on their home floor against the top-seeded Nuggets, who won the first two games of their Western Conference semifinal in Denver.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

Jayson Tatum scored 27 points to lead six Boston players in double figures on Friday as the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 114-102.