The Sixers’ season is not over.
They avoided elimination in Game 4 with a 103-92 win over the Celtics to force a Game 5 Wednesday in Boston. The Celtics lead the series, 3-1.
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• Brett Brown hadn’t been changing up his lineup and rotations much … until Monday. He started guard T.J. McConnell and moved forward Robert Covington to the bench. McConnell earned increased playing time as a dependable floor leader while Covington has been up and down, fluctuating from three points to 22 and just one in Game 3.
McConnell was ultra aggressive with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and no turnovers in 39 minutes. The crowd responded with a “T-J! T-J!” chant. Any question of McConnell’s role on a playoff team should be answered with this game (see story).
• The Sixers never hit the panic button going into Game 4. Multiple players maintained they would be alright as they took the approach of one quarter at a time.
“We’re OK,” Joel Embiid said at practice Sunday. “We’re good. We know what we’ve got to do.”
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• About that anticipation of physicality — 7-foot Joel Embiid and 6-foot Terry Rozier had to be separated during the second quarter. They were issued double techs (see story), then both responded by draining threes.
With 15 points and 13 rebounds, Embiid became the first player to post a double-double in at least six of his first seven postseason games (in the same season) since Chris Paul did it in 2008.
• In an unexpected twist, Ben Simmons (7 for 8) shot better from the line than JJ Redick (0 for 2). Simmons looked eager with his offensive game. He made 6 of 15 field goal attempts and posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 boards.
• Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 20 points and Marcus Morris contributed 17 off the bench.
• The Celtics ran into foul trouble. Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Morris were whistled for five each. Tatum picked up his third in the second quarter.
• Jimmy Rollins rang the ceremonial pregame bell and sat with Dikembe Mutombo.