Boston silences 76ers in overtime
Cleveland wins on James’ shot
Al Horford scored the goahead basket for Boston late in overtime in a wild Game 3 where the 76ers gave away the basketball and the confetti, leading the Celtics to a stunning 101-98 win and a 3-0 series lead Saturday night.
The ending to regulation was about as wild as it gets for both teams. Philadelphia’s JJ Redick threw away the basketball 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, Marco Belinelli stunned everyone with 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 sevenminute delay while team employees scrambled to clean up the mess on the court. Some players even scooped up confetti as everyone waited for the start of overtime.
Belinelli opened OT with a 23-footer and Redick followed with a 3 that appeared to take him off the hook and put the 76ers on their way to a victory at home.
But the Celtics wouldn’t let them pull away and Horford escaped for a layup with 5.5 seconds remaining that gave Boston a 99-98 lead. Ben Simmons then threw the ball away after a timeout and Horford sealed the win with two free throws.
Jayson Tatum scored 24 points and Rozier had 18 for the Celtics. Joel Embiid had 22 points and 19 rebounds for the 76ers, Redick scored 18 and Simmons 16.
The highlight came on Belinelli’s shot that had the 76ers mobbing him in a wild celebration. 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 76ers “better win or I’m done.” They didn’t.
The Celtics can advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive season with a win in Boston on Monday.
Other game
Cavaliers 105, Raptors 103: LeBron James banked in a running one-hander at the buzzer, giving host Cleveland the win against Toronto Saturday night in Game 3. The Cavaliers take a 3-0 series lead and shove the Raptors to the edge of their most devastating playoff exit. After the Raptors tied it on rookie OG Anunoby’s 3-pointer with eight seconds left, James took the inbounds pass, dribbled the length of the floor and in one motion, made his 10-footer in front of Toronto’s stunned bench.