CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ This game definitely had a survive-and-move-on-to-play-the-Boston-Celtics feel.
The 76ers did just enough Tuesday night to defeat the Charlotte Hornets, 118-114, Tuesday night at the Spectrum Center. James Ennis III hit a corner 3-pointer to put the Sixers up, 115-111, with 18.4 seconds left.
But the reserve forward fouled Jeremy Lamb, while attempting a 3-pointer with 6.3 ticks left. Lamb converted all three attempts to close the gap to one point.
On the ensuing possession, Tobias Harris made just one of two foul shots to give the Sixers a 116-114 lead with 8.2 seconds left. Lamb's driving layup attempt rimmed out in the closing seconds. Harris grabbed the rebound and got fouled. The power forward made two foul shots with 0.8 second left to give the Sixers their four-point win.
By the time the Eastern Conference's third-place team put the finishing touches on Charlotte, the Sixers' attention turned to Wednesday night's showdown with Boston at the Wells Fargo Center.
The contest between Atlantic Division rivals could help give a better picture of the Sixers' ability to hold onto their seeding.
Philly has a 46-25 record with 11 games remaining. The fourth-place Indiana Pacers were 1 { games back heading into Tuesday night's contest at the Los Angeles Clippers. Meanwhile, the fifth-place Celtics (43-28) are three games behind the Sixers.
A rare win over Boston would provide a confidence boost for the Sixers.
That's because the Celtics have been the Philly's kryptonite and everyone knows it. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Sixers are 3-21 against Boston, including a five-game Eastern Conference semifinal-series setback in May.
The recent struggles are part of the reason why securing the third seed in vital for the Sixers. It would enable them to avoid the four-five seed matchup in the first round of the playoffs. The top four seeds get home court advantage in the first round.
Due to going 3-0 in this season's series meeting, the Celtics would hold the tiebreaker if they and the Sixers finish the same record.
But Philly extended their winning streak to a season-best five games by beating the Hornets (31-39), losers of 13 of their last 18 games.
The Sixers won the game in large part because of a balanced attack.
Ben Simmons finished with a game-high 28 points to go with 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. JJ Redick added 27 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. He was 7 of 14 on 3-pointers. Twenty-one of his points came in the first half on 5-for-8 3-point shooting. Jimmy Butler had 23 points and 9 assists. Harris, who was under the weather had, 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Ennis, who had 14 points, was the only Sixer reserve to score.
Amir Johnson finished with four points while starting in place of Embiid. The two-time All-Star center was held out of the game due to load management. He was sidelined for the first eight games following the All-Star break with tendinitis in his left knee.
Coach Brett Brown said the Sixers started Johnson over Embiid's backup Boban Marjanovic to keep symmetry with the rotation. Marjanovic, T.J. McConnell and Mike Scott are the first three players off the bench and come in together at the first substitution.
"Try to keep people in for the same type of lane with Jo, without Jo and the pairings to me matter in that regard," Brown said. "I decided to go with Amir for that reason and more."
However, Johnson only played 4 minutes, 6 seconds o action in the second half _ all in the third quarter. Marjanovic, meanwhile, didn't see any action after intermission.
However, Embiid has not been cleared to play on back-to-back nights. So he opted to miss the game vs. the Hornets due to the Celtics being a tougher opponent.
The biggest question Tuesday night was how many points Kemba Walker would score against the Sixers. He was limited to 5 minutes, 54 minutes and four points in the first half due to having three fouls. Walker finished with 21, while Lamb had 26
Walker, a three-time All-Star point guard, averaged 40.2 points in the teams' first three series meetings. Walker set a franchise-record 60 points in a 122-119 overtime loss to Philly here on Nov. 17.
Hornets reserve forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist left the game in the third quarter and bumping heads in Johnson. The South Jersey native, who was evaluated for a concussion did not return.
Following the game, the Sixers boarded a plane back to Philly. Their focus was on resting up for the much-anticipated matchup with Boston.
They'll have a well-rested Embiid back for the showdown.
The teams' previous meeting, the Celtics prevailed 112-109 on Feb 12 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Al Horford, once again, proved to be a matchup problem for Embiid.
The Celtics center was 9-for-16 from the field, including going 3-for-5 on 3-pointers en route to finishing with 23 points. He also had eight rebounds and four steals. Embiid, however, scored his 23 points on 9-for-22 shooting. He went 2 of 8 from long range. He did post a double-double by also producing a game-high 14 rebounds to go with two blocks. Fifteen of Embiid's points came in the fourth quarter.
Afterward, he voiced his frustration over not getting the foul calls he deserved, especially on key plays late in that game.
Following his news conference, Embiid leaned into the microphone and said "the referees (bleeping) suck."
But the Celtics were without six-time All-Star point guard Kyrie Erving and Redick and Harris had a subpar game.
He finished with 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting, including missing all six of his 3-pointers.
But that was five days and the third game after Philly acquired him, Marjanovic, Mike Scott, Ennis and Jonathon Simmons at the trade deadline. So it was hard to get a read on the Sixers that night.
Wednesday night will be different.
Boston guard Gordon Hayward will miss the game due to being in the NB concussion protocol. Horford is probable with left knee soreness.
