Joel Embiid scores 33 as 76ers beat Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 to keep their season alive

BOSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid was even better in his second game back.

And that was good enough for the Philadelphia 76ers to avoid elimination in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Less than three weeks after an emergency appendectomy knocked Embiid out for the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, the Sixers center scored 33 points as Philadelphia beat Boston 113-97 in Game 5 on Tuesday night.

“He was dominant. Especially the second half, he was extremely dominant,” said Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey, who had 25 points and 10 rebounds. “He did a really good job of just inserting himself. I was proud of him tonight, man. That's the dominance that you go into a playoff game with: He did that.”

After scoring two points in the first quarter on 1-of-6 shooting, Embiid scored 13 in the second, 10 in the third and eight in the fourth, when the Sixers went on a 12-0 run to turn a three-point lead into a 15-point runaway.

“I feel like he had too many easy baskets," said Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, who scored 22 points. "We’ve got to make him work. ... Tonight he got a bunch of easy baskets, and I feel like that propelled him.”

Paul George had 16 points and nine rebounds for the seventh-seeded Sixers, who lost Games 3 and 4 at home to fall behind 3-1 in the series before returning to Boston to keep their season alive.

Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Neemias Queta had eight points and 14 boards for the Celtics, who will try again to eliminate the Sixers back in Philadelphia in Game 6 on Thursday night. Game 7, if necessary, would be back in Boston on Saturday.

“No need to put any extra pressure on ourselves,” Brown said. “There’s enough of that as it is.”

Earlier Tuesday, Celtics president Brad Stevens was named NBA Executive of the Year for the second time in three seasons after disassembling the team that won it all two years ago and getting Boston back to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics did it despite missing Tatum for all but 16 regular-season games as he recovered from a torn Achilles tendon.

The Sixers missed the playoffs last year after seven straight postseason appearances, but earned the No. 7 seed this year with a victory over Orlando in a play-in game. After losing by 32 in Game 1, they coasted to a win at Boston in Game 2 but then lost both at home — with another 32-point blowout in Game 4 on Sunday, despite Embiid finishing with 26 points and 10 rebounds in his first game since April 6.

“Our fans deserve a win at home. We lost a tough one, then we got blown out of the water,” Maxey said. “After that performance that we put on last time in front of our fans, that was a disgrace and it was unacceptable.”

The Celtics led by 11 in the second quarter and held a 13-point edge early in the third. Both times Philadelphia rallied within a basket, using a 15-3 run to make it 66-65 Boston midway through the third.

It was still a one-point Celtics lead heading into the fourth, when George hit a 3-pointer to give Philly its first lead since the first quarter. After a pair of 3-pointers by Sam Hauser kept Boston close, Hauser fouled Quentin Grimes while he was shooting a 3; the three free throws started the Sixers on a game-ending 19-5 run.

“We got a little rocky start there in the third,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “But then we really, really got going. And then once we closed the gap, we we’re pretty solid.”

Boston scored just 10 points in the fourth quarter on 3-of-22 shooting after making almost half its shots in the first 36 minutes.

“When you have empty possession, empty possession, and you’re not getting stops, it’s frustrating," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) takes a shot over Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) during the second half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) takes a 3-point shot over Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) takes a 3-point shot over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, left, during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) takes a shot over Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) during the first half of Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

NEW YORK (AP) — Kodai Senga went on the 10-day injured list with lumbar spine inflammation Tuesday for the struggling New York Mets, who also have growing concerns about the health of outfielders Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr.

Soto alleviated some of those worries hours later, first by playing catch from 100 feet and then by hitting a two-run homer to provide the exclamation point on a seven-run fourth inning in the Mets’ 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

“I just felt it right there on Friday when I was throwing and we were trying to figure out how it’s going to be,” Soto said. “But at the end of the day, the images were good and we feel comfortable right now.”

New York manager Carlos Mendoza said Soto, who has yet to play the field in six games since returning last Wednesday after missing nearly three weeks with a strained right calf, felt discomfort in his forearm while throwing Friday and Sunday. He underwent an MRI that revealed no ligament damage.

“He’s going to continue to get treatment, he’s going to continue to throw and hopefully can play the outfield here in the next few days,” Mendoza said. “But it doesn’t hurt him to swing or anything like that.”

Soto indicated as much by hitting a 381-foot, opposite-field homer off Zack Littell — his second this season and first since the calf injury.

Senga was placed on the IL retroactive to Monday, one day after the right-hander’s struggles continued when he gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings as the Colorado Rockies completed a doubleheader sweep with a 3-0 win.

Mendoza said Senga, who has a 17.28 ERA in his last three starts and a 6.94 ERA in 14 outings dating to last July, told trainers he was feeling discomfort in his lower back and right hip after Sunday’s game.

An MRI administered Monday revealed the inflammation. Senga received an epidural and will not throw for 7 to 10 days before the next step is determined.

“We didn’t know what we were dealing with until we got the MRI,” Mendoza said.

The Mets, who have lost 15 of 18, opened a three-game series against Washington with Robert out of the lineup.

Robert, who was limited to 210 games the previous two seasons with the Chicago White Sox due to hip and hamstring injuries, sat out Sunday’s second game with tightness in his lower back. Mendoza said Robert had treatment Tuesday and is day-to-day.

The Mets are already without star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who strained his left calf last Wednesday and is wearing a protective boot. He won't be re-examined until mid-May.

New York did get some good news regarding Jorge Polanco, who is running at about 80% as he recovers from left Achilles tendon and right wrist injuries. Mendoza said Polanco, who played in 14 games before going on the injured list April 18, was also slated to play catch and hit in the cages Tuesday.

To replace Senga on the active roster, the Mets recalled right-hander Christian Scott from Triple-A Syracuse. Scott will start Friday’s series opener in Los Angeles against the Angels.

David Peterson, a 2025 All-Star who was demoted to the bullpen after four subpar starts, will return to the rotation for Wednesday’s game against the Nationals. Peterson gave up one run in seven innings over two relief appearances.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio (0) Juan Soto (22) celebrate scoring on Soto's two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Mets' Juan Soto (22) spits out a seed as he scores a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

New York Mets' Juan Soto reacts after hitting a line out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga throws during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)