The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t won a home playoff game so far in their first-round series with the Boston Celtics.
The Sixers dropped a close Game 3 at home to Boston before being completely dominated in front of the Philly faithful in Game 4. Given the way the fourth game transpired, many expected the Sixers to end their season with a loss in Boston in Game 5.
Tyrese Maxey Vows to Get a Win in Front of Philadelphia Fans in Game 6
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
But, the Sixers pulled out a gutsy win over the Celtics in the fifth game of the series and forced a pivotal Game 6 back in Philadelphia on Thursday night. Heading into that game, Sixers star guard Tyrese Maxey vowed to do everything in his power to help deliver a win to the fans in Philly.
“Our fans deserve a win at home,” Maxey said after Game 5. “We lost a tough one and then we got blown out the water. After the performance that we put on last time in front of our fans, that was a disgrace and it was unacceptable. I plan on making sure that my teammates go out there and we fight, and we scratch and we claw and we get a W.”
While Maxey plans to do all he can to extend the series and push Boston to the brink, he knows that doing so won’t be easy.
“It’ll take everything we’ve got,” Maxey said. “It’ll take even more of an effort than it did tonight.”
76ers Are Over Two Years Removed From Their Last Home Playoff Win
It’s been over two years since the Sixers last won a home playoff game. That came over the New York Knicks on April 25, 2024. So the fans in Philly are hungry. Hopefully Maxey can make good on his goal of delivering a win to the fans in the stands at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
If the Sixers are going to pull out a second straight victory over Boston in Game 6, they’re going to need another elite performance from star center Joel Emiid. The former MVP dominated Boston in the second half of Game 5 as the Celtics simply had no answers for him when he switched his primary offensive position from perimeter play to post play.
Embiid finished Game 5 with 33 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds, and his play was the catalyst for Philadelphia’s 113-97 victory. “He was dominant,” Maxey said of Embiid after the game.
Maxey himself will need to step up also if the Sixers are going to extend the series again and force a do-or-die Game 7 back in Boston. While he’s been productive, Maxey has scored below his season average in two straight games for the Sixers and three out of the five games in the series so far.
Tyrese Maxey Sends Message to 76ers Fans Ahead of Game 6 vs. Celtics