T.J. leads way Sixers dig deep into bench to avoid sweep
76ERS 103, CELTICS 92
PHILADELPHIA — The chants for “TJ! TJ!” grew louder each time T.J. McConnell darted through the lane for an easy basket or buried a three-pointer to build the 76ers’ lead.
He wore a sheepish look as teammates rubbed his head on the bench in appreciation, the big moment due on an undrafted guard who plugged a role in the early days of “The Process” and morphed into a surprise postseason savior.
McConnell turned an eye-popping start into the save of the season, and Dario
Saric scored 25 points to help Philadelphia stave off elimination in a 103-92 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 on Monday night.
“If I saw a lane, I took it. If I had an open shot, I would try and take it,” McConnell said.
Yet the Sixers still face daunting odds headed into Game 5 and trailing 3-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals: Of the 129 NBA teams who have been down 3-0, not a single one has bounced back to win a series.
McConnell had a career-high 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in only his second start of the season and meshed well in the backcourt with Ben Simmons. The crowd chanted his initials each time he touched the ball in the fourth, and he proved why he has been so valuable even as bigger stars have sliced his playing time.
He was just what Coach Brett Brown needed in a must-win game.
“I can tell you the Philadelphia 76ers’ spirit is just fine,” Brown said.
Joel Embiid had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Simmons had 19 points and 13 boards.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 20 points and Marcus Morris had 17.
The Sixers spent the second half in control in what could be their last home game of the season.
Embiid was still in the mix in his mask, stirring it up with any Celtic within his wingspan.
He chirped at Morris in the third, and the Celtics forward flashed a “3-0” with his hands.
But McConnell made a three-pointer for a 14-point lead that would soon make that combination obsolete.
The “TJ!” chants soon echoed throughout the Wells Fargo Center.
“It was a pretty special moment,” McConnell said of the chants. “I think we have the best fans in the NBA. They’ve been here through the dark times, and they’ve certainly been here on our rise.”
So has McConnell. Brown was desperate to spark the Sixers and benched slumping forward Robert Covington (0 for 14 combined in Games 1 and 3) for McConnell.
McConnell had started 68 games combined over the past two seasons and served as an example of the type of player The Process was built on.
He was an underdog, a hustler, a court general averaging 6.5 points that made him a reliable favorite for Brown. But Simmons’ emergence put McConnell on the bench, and without complaint.
With a chance to shine, McConnell zipped inside for easy buckets, made the extra pass to keep the offense rolling and dove for loose balls.
“How do I help my stars be stars because at the end of the day that’s what we need,” Brown said. “That’s my job.”
He turned to McConnell, that’s how.
The anticipation of elimination and a 6 p.m. EDT tip sharply cut into attendance, and the game had more of an early-season feel until Embiid and Terry Rozier shook everyone up with pushing and shoving late in the first half.
Embiid tried to strip the ball from Rozier after the whistle. Rozier tightened his grip and Embiid slapped at the ball again. The 6-1 Rozier shoved the 7-2 Embiid in the chest with his right hand and the two quickly had to be separated.
“He tried to punch me twice. Too bad he’s so short he couldn’t get to my face,” Embiid said.
Rozier and Embiid were hit with technical fouls. Then they each hit three-pointers.
Embiid buried one that had the crowd buzzing until Rozier came right back and hit his own.
The Celtics can still finish the series Wednesday at home.
“Finish the game. Get it done,” Boston’s Jaylen Brown said. “Advance and do what we were supposed to do.” BOSTON (92) Tatum 7-16 4-4 20, Horford 4-6 2-2 10, Baynes 2-7 3-4 9, Rozier 4-11 2-4 11, Smart 5-12 3-4 14, Ojeleye 0-0 0-0 0, Nader 0-0 0-2 0, Morris 6-15 2-3 17, Yabusele 0-0 0-0 0, Monroe 1-2 1-1 3, Larkin 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 2-6 2-2 8. Totals 31-75 19-26 92. PHILADELPHIA (103) Redick 3-11 0-2 7, Saric 9-17 6-6 25, Embiid 6-15 1-2 15, Simmons 6-15 7-8 19, McConnell 9-12 0-1 19, Covington 1-7 0-0 3, Ilyasova 2-7 2-3 6, Anderson 0-0
0-0 0, Belinelli 2-10 4-4 9. Totals 38-94 20-26 103. Boston .............. 22 21 22 27 — 92 Philadelphia ....... 21 26 29 27 — 103 3-Point Goals—Boston 11-32 (Morris 3-6, Brown 2-5, Baynes 2-6, Tatum 2-6, Smart 1-2, Rozier 1-6, Horford 0-1), Philadelphia 7-26 (Embiid 2-5, McConnell 1-1, Saric 1-3, Belinelli 1-3, Covington 1-5, Redick 1-7, Ilyasova 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Boston 43 (Horford 10), Philadelphia 53 (Embiid, Simmons 13). Assists—Boston 16 (Tatum 4), Philadelphia 24 (McConnell, Simmons 5). Total Fouls—Boston 28, Philadelphia 23. Technicals—Rozier, Brown, Boston coach Brad Stevens, Embiid. Attendance—20,936 (21,600).