The Boston Celtics are heading into Thursday night's Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers with a clean bill of health—and that's exactly the kind of news fans love to hear. With no players listed on the injury report, the C's will be at full strength as they look to close out the series on the road. Holding a 3-2 lead, Boston has managed to stay injury-free throughout this first-round matchup, a trend that continues at just the right time.
On the other side, the Sixers have Joel Embiid listed as probable for Game 6. The big man was also probable ahead of Game 5 before being upgraded to available, and he's been a force since returning from his appendectomy procedure. After missing the first three games of the series, Embiid has suited up for every contest since Game 4, and his presence has shifted the momentum.
The series now shifts to Xfinity Mobile Arena for the last time, following Philadelphia's upset win in Boston during Game 5. The Celtics started strong but unraveled in the fourth quarter, giving the Sixers new life. Philadelphia was swept in its two home games earlier in the series, so Thursday presents a chance to finally grab a win in front of their own crowd.
This series has been a rollercoaster. Boston dominated in blowout wins during Games 1 and 4, and pulled off a clutch victory in Game 3. But the Sixers have answered back with double-digit wins in Games 2 and 5. The C's had a golden opportunity to close things out on their home court but couldn't seal the deal. Now, they'll need to channel that road playoff success that has defined so many of their recent runs.
How Boston handles the former MVP in Embiid will be a major storyline. He started slow in Game 5 but took over in the third quarter, finishing with 33 points and eight assists on 12-for-23 shooting. The Celtics will need a better defensive game plan to keep him from replicating that performance.
It's worth noting that Boston dropped to 1-2 at home in this series, adding to their recent playoff struggles at TD Garden. But the flip side? The Celtics have been stellar on the road in past postseasons, and they'll need that resilience now more than ever. With a full roster and a chance to advance, Game 6 promises to be a must-watch showdown.