
Championship talking points: Blockbuster final week awaits
Exciting final week ahead in the Championship as Ipswich and Middlesbrough vie for top spots.
Joel Embiid returned to play for the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics after recovering from an appendectomy. Despite his performance, the Celtics dominated the game, winning 128-96 and taking a 3-1 series lead.
PHILADELPHIA â Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid literally and figuratively loomed large over the Boston Celtics heading into the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He was sidelined for the first two games of the series rather definitively, yet there was always a chance he could return following his recovery from an appendectomy in early April. That moment finally came on Sunday night, as Embiid went from "doubtful" on the injury report to "questionable" less than an hour later and then was cleared to play 30 minutes before tipoff at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
While Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla refused to explicitly say whether or not his squad was previously preparing for Embiid's arrival, their coordinated play in Game 4 suggests that they weren't exactly startled. Although the 2023 league MVP started off hot with 10 points in the first quarter on 60 percent shooting, he missed 10 of his next 16 shots and finished with a dismal plus-minus rating of minus-25. The Celtics went on to dominate, 128-96, and take a 3-1 series lead behind stellar performances from star Jayson Tatum and sixth man Payton Pritchard.
"You're not going to be able to stop him," Mazzulla described of Embiid. "You just have to try to contain him."
At times, the Celtics took a laissez faire approach while guarding the Cameroon center. They'd let him square up for a long jumper or a 3-pointer because they were willing to live with the result. Those calculated risks paid off.
Embiid failed to connect on 5 of his 6 attempts from deep and shot under 50% on his tries outside of the paint but within the 3-point arc.
"You have to be able to just contain him and defend him as a team," Mazzulla said. "He's so effective to the point where you just got to know what you're willing to live with, what you're willing to take away. And you got to be ready to do that."
Joel Embiid scored 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and provided 6 assists, but had a plus-minus rating of minus-25.
Joe Mazzulla emphasized containing Embiid rather than stopping him, allowing some long-range shots while focusing on team defense.
The Celtics defeated the 76ers 128-96, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.
Tyrese Maxey's offensive impact was reduced, as he shot only 14 times in 40 minutes, likely to accommodate Embiid's return.

Exciting final week ahead in the Championship as Ipswich and Middlesbrough vie for top spots.

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