Final: Sixers 103, Celtics 101 - Embiid drops 52, C's miss chance to tie at the buzzer

Game 79: Celtics (+2.5) at Philadelphia 76ers, 8:00 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, NBCS Boston/TNT

Injuries: 

Boston: OUT- Danilo Gallinari, Robert Williams (knee injury management)

QUESTIONABLE- Jaylen Brown (low back), Payton Pritchard (heel)

Philadelphia: None

Sixers Probable Starters: James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, PJ Tucker

Refs: Eric Lewis (#42), JB DeRosa (#22), JT Orr (#72)

Last time they played: Celtics 110, Sixers 107, February 25 - The Celtics didn’t play their best opening quarter, but they survived a hot shooting first from Philly and a 9-point deficit to go into the second down only 2. Boston used a 13-0 run to ultimately build a lead of their own, but they went cold in the middle of the quarter to give the lead back. The Sixers closed the quarter on a 24-11 run, fueled largely by free throws. The Celtics stumbled out of the half, but Al Horford hit four 3-pointers to help turn a 15-point deficit into a 2-point lead after 3. The lead ballooned to 10 but Philly was able to climb back into it behind Joel Embiid late. Jayson Tatum broke a tie with a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left, and Embiid's hit a three-quarter court miracle that was a half-second late.

A little something about this game: The next Celtics win or Sixers loss clinches the second seed for Boston. The Celtics already own the tiebreaker against the Sixers. After an eight-game winning streak to threaten to leapfrog Boston in the standings, the Sixers lost four of their next six. 

Things I’m looking for: 

- Philly’s effort: This game is so much more important to the Sixers than it is to Boston. The Celtics have proven their point against the Sixers over and over and over again, and with just one more win over the next four necessary to lock up the second seed, the Celtics just might not be as interested in expending maximum energy in this game. Philly, meanwhile, is (a) coming off a shellacking at the hands of the Bucks and (b) trying to shake the bad juju of always losing to the Celtics. Philly would like one game heading into the playoffs to get their confidence up against Boston. 

- Jaylen Brown’s absence? He’s questionable heading into the game, so a night off for him means someone is going to get more opportunity. The Celtics could turn to Mike Muscala for some size with shooting to spread the floor a little bit more. 

- Guarding Embiid: I still think the Celtics have enough to make Embiid’s life difficult. The guys they do have -- Al Horford and Grant Williams, specifically -- can make it tough for Embiid to get going. Embiid is chasing an MVP, so he might have some extra motivation, but that just means that if Boston can keep him somewhat in check, then he’ll have that in his head the rest of the way. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.