Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Sixers | featured news

Jrue Holiday scored 20 points, and Elton Brand had 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the tough-and-determined Philadelphia 76ers past the Celtics, 82-75 on Wednesday night to send the Eastern Conference semifinals back to Boston for Game 7. No team has won consecutive games in a series where neither team has played well enough to seize control.

Brandon Bass scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter and the Celtics pulled away from the Sixers 101-85 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Wednesday in Philly.

We’re a week into the NBA season and some things are what we expected — the Lakers, Heat and Celtics are good; the Sixers are not; John Wall is dynamic; Kobe won’t talk about his injuries; and the Grizzles are making bad contract decisions.

Elton Brand had 23 points and eight rebounds, giving Philadelphia the lead on a tip-in with 7.7 seconds left, and the 76ers snapped Boston’s 11-game win streak with 98-97 victory over the Celtics on Friday night.

With LeBron James, All-Star guard Mo Williams and other regulars resting for the playoffs, Cleveland lost for just the second time on their home floor this season, 111-110 in overtime Wednesday night to the Philadelphia 76ers.