The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)

Sixers

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euphoria that hasn’t died down since the Eagles beat the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl.

Look around the arena, and the champs were all around.

Lurie was in the house and so were a handful of Eagles. The national champion Villanova Wildcats were feted during the game. The Wildcats posed with Mill in the locker room and then stopped for selfies on the way to the court for a brief celebratio­n. The city has already thrown two championsh­ip parades this year — the 76ers have played like a team that could add one more.

“We all got a taste of it with the Eagles, we all got a taste of it with Villanova’s tremendous win,” coach Brett Brown said. “You feel it with the city from afar.”

He added: “Everybody is excited to be a part of, what I think, is playing out to be a cool story.”

Embiid, who came to personify the Process, had his second consecutiv­e doubledoub­le and tallied 56 points, 31 rebounds and nine blocks in just three playoff games. Embiid again played in a black mask to guard a face injury, and he’ll have plenty of time to rest and recover with the other Eastern Conference playoff series expected to stretch into the weekend.

“We feel like we’re unstoppabl­e and we can get whatever we want to,” Embiid said. “That’s the goal and we’re going to do what it takes to get there.”

Here’s what else to know about the 76ers in the postseason. MEEKFREE» This was no runof-the-mill Game 5 victory for the Sixers. Mill was there just hours after being released from prison.

He was brought by helicopter to Philadelph­ia, where he rang the ceremonial bell to start the game. Mill sat courtside next to Hart and Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin.

Rubin had organized prison trips with Embiid, Simmons and Markelle Fultz to support Mill, and the rapper’s songs played in the locker room and during warmups.

“When he was in jail, I went to visit him. He wasn’t feeling good. You could tell,” Embiid said. “For him to come to this type of game ... I was just happy.” DY-NO-MITE!!! » The 76ers caused a few eyes to roll around the league when they signed free-agent guard JJ Redick to a $23 million, oneyear deal in the offseason. Redick was coming off a solid four-year run with the Clippers, but even by NBA standards, the Sixers appeared to overpay for the 3-point ace. Redick has been worth every dollar, and he delivered again in Game 5. He made 5 of 10 3 pointers, all 10 free throws and scored a game-high 27 points.

It was the second time this postseason that Redick scored at least 27 points and the third time in his playoff career. He had consecutiv­e 20-point games in the postseason for the first time in his career.

“We’ve changed our goals like four times,” Redick said. “First, it was make the playoffs, then win 50 games, then getting home court, then getting the No. 3 seed.”

All four goals have been reached. ROOKIE ROCKS IT » Simmons had 14 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the series. He is the first rookie to post at least four double-doubles in his first five postseason games since San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in 1997-98.

Simmons was a force against the Heat. He had 91 points, 53 rebounds and 45 assists in the series and showed why he’s the favorite to win the NBA rookie of the year.

“This is what I’m going to expect now,” Simmons said.

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