Sixers force Game 7 with Celtics

Holiday leads Philly with 20- point effort

PHILADELPHIA — Jrue Holiday scored 20 points, and Elton Brand had 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the tough anddetermined Philadelphia 76ers past the Celtics 82- 75 on Wednesday to send the Eastern Conference semifinals back to Boston for Game 7.

No team has won consecutive games in a series where neither team has played well enough to seize control.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo could be playing their final National Basketball Association game together Saturday if they can’t find a way to hang onto the ball and put away a Sixers team that won’t quit.

Former 76ers All- Star Allen Iverson earned a roaring standing ovation when he presented the game ball.

By the end, the fans were on their feet for Holiday, Brand and Andre Iguodala for keeping the eighth- seeded Sixers alive for at least one more game.

The Celtics posted ugly numbers across the board: Blame the loss on the 33 per cent shooting, the 17 turnovers or the 3- for- 14 3- point shooting. Either way, there’s enough to go around.

Pierce had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Garnett had 20 points and 11 boards.

The Sixers again failed to put up the sparkling numbers in the box score usually required for a deep post- season run. They missed 8- of- 9 3- pointers, shot a woeful 17 of 28 from the free throw line and had 12 turnovers.