Wild OT win gives Celtics 3-0 cushion

PHILADELPHIA — Al Horford had no use for the premature celebration that showered confetti all over the 76ers’ home court at the end of regulation, delaying overtime and prompting an impromptu cleanup job.

Turns out, Horford has the Celtics just a game away from a real sweep.

Horford scored the go-ahead basket for Boston late in overtime in a wild Game 3 in which the Philadelphia 76ers were sloppy with the ball and the confetti, leading the Celtics to a 101-98 victory and a 3-0 series lead Saturday.

“These are the kind of moments you want to be in as a basketball player,” Horford said.

Marco Belinelli had hit a buzzer-beater to end the fourth quarter that sent the Sixers into a wild celebration on the court as confetti shot out of a cannon that made it rain over chunks of the arena. Hold up. Game 3 only was headed into OT. The Celtics, who rallied from a 22-point deficit to beat the 76ers 108-103 in Game 2, can advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season with a win Monday.

The ending to regulation was about as wild as it gets. J.J. Redick threw away the ball on an errant pass to no one that was scooped by Terry Rozier, who threw to Jaylen Brown for the basket and an 89-87 lead.

Seconds later, Belinelli hit a falling 22-footer in front of the 76ers’ bench as time expired that sent the game into overtime — and confetti mistakenly blasted from the cannon.

There was about a seven-minute delay while team employees scrambled to clean up the mess.

Confetti Guy — wearing a “Breaking News: I Don’t Care” T-shirt — pushed the button too early and the rectangular pieces were soaring everywhere.

Confetti Guy — who declined to give his name — came over to press row and said the Sixers “better win or I’m done.”

They didn’t.

■ At Cleveland, LeBron James banked in a 10-foot running onehander at the buzzer for Cleveland, which took a 3-0 series lead.

James totaled 38 points and Kevin Love 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who are 11-2 against Toronto in the past three postseasons.

Kyle Lowry scored 27 points for the Raptors, who clawed back in the fourth quarter with All-Star DeMar DeRozan on the bench in foul trouble.

Cavaliers 105, Raptors 103 —