LITTLE ROCK — NBA playoffs TUESDAY’S GAME Miami 115, Indiana 83,
Miami leads series 3-2 WEDNESDAY’S GAME Philadelphia, 82, Boston 75
Series tied 3-3 TODAY’S GAME All times Central Miami at Indiana, 7 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA - The buzz at the start was for Allen Iverson’s ceremonial return.
By the end, more than 20,000 fans were on their feet and going wild for Jrue Holiday, Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala and the rugged-anddetermined play that kept the eighth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers alive for at least one more game.
Yes, the Sixers are talking about Game 7 - and they’re taking this improbable postseason run back to Boston.
Holiday scored 20 points, and Brand had 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Sixers to an 82-75 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday night that tied the NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.
No team has won consecutive games in a series where neither team has played well enough to seize control. But the Sixers were good enough to win Game 6, improving to 5-0 this postseason in games following a loss.
“Game 7,” Sixers Coach Doug Collins said. “That’s all we wanted was to win tonight and give ourselves a chance to go into Boston and see what happens on Saturday.”
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo could be playing their last game together Saturday night if they can’t find a way to hang onto the ball and put away a Sixers team that won’t quit.
Boston has learned three times already how difficult that can be.
The fun started when the not-quite retired Iverson received a roaring standing ovation when he presented the game ball.
It ended with the song, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” blasting through the arena.
“I want more,” Collins said. “We’re going to get greedy. We want more.”
The Celtics posted ugly numbers across the board: 33-percent shooting, 17 turnovers and hitting only 3 for 14 three-pointers.
Pierce had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Garnett had 20 points and 11 rebounds.
“We found a way to stay in the game for the most part,” Pierce said.
They did because the Sixers again failed to put up decisive numbers. They missed 8 of 9 three-pointers, hit only 17 of 28 free throws and had 12 turnovers.
But when the Sixers really needed a game-changing basket, there was Evan Turner twisting and fighting through defenders down the lane. When the Sixers needed a stop, there was Brand, ripping a rebound away from Boston,even with painful neck and shoulder injuries that keep him awake at night.
“When you get out there, you don’t feel much,” Brand said. “You’ve got the adrenaline flowing. You’re banging and fighting. That’s why Coach has confidence in meto play 34 minutes.”
The Sixers wrote “Huddle Up and Fight” on their locker room chalkboard.
They did just that and are now one victory away from reaching the conference finals for the first time since 2001.
Iverson was the MVP ofthat run.
Unlike Game 5, when the Sixers collapsed in the third quarter and blew a lead, they suddenly found a groove in front of 20,403 fans Wednesday night.
The Sixers started hitting free throws, kept turnovers to a minimum (two) and fed the ball to a starting lineup that had been largely outproduced by a fantastic bench.
Turner was fouled on a goahead layup but missed from the line. That made the Sixers 5 of 13 from the line, while the Celtics were 14 for 14.
Iguodala split two defenders and dunked over Pierce to draw a foul. He made his first free throw after missing his first four, and the Sixers led by five.
Pierce led the parade to the line for the Boston. He made his first 11 attempts and the Celtics were 17 for 17 at the line through three quarters. But the Celtics made only 19 field goals in the first three quarters.
“We’ve got to move the ball and continue to play the defense that we’ve been playing,” Pierce said.
Sports, Pages 19 on 05/24/2012