The Philadelphia 76ers are locked in and ready for battle. After a high-energy shootaround at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday morning, with music from NBA YoungBoy to Drake pumping through the speakers, the team exuded confidence ahead of a pivotal Game 6 against the Boston Celtics.
Facing elimination after falling behind 3-1 in the series, the Sixers responded in a big way, taking down the Celtics 113-97 on their home floor at TD Garden. That victory was fueled by a suffocating defensive effort in the fourth quarter and another superstar performance from Joel Embiid. Now, the challenge is clear: protect home court and force a winner-take-all Game 7 back in Boston on Saturday.
"It's the same intensity we had last game," said Quentin Grimes after shootaround. "Same focus. Can't look too far ahead. We had a good shootaround. Had good energy today. Everybody knows how important today is. It could be the last game of the season. So, we gotta leave it all out on the court."
But the Celtics are a championship-tested team, and they won't go quietly. In the NBA, the great teams always punch back harder after a loss, and Boston has a history of doing just that under coach Joe Mazzulla. The Sixers know they'll need to match that fire from the opening tip.
"Kinda similar to after Game 2 when we went up there," Grimes added. "We came back home and it is what it was, so we gotta come in with the same focus. Coach is gonna have them prepared over there, Mazzulla, for sure. So, we gotta come out with the same intensity, if not even more, so we can force a Game 7 back at their house."
It's no secret that the Sixers have struggled at home in this series, dropping both Games 3 and 4 at Wells Fargo Center, including a brutal 32-point loss in Game 4 that put them in this 3-1 hole. That inconsistency has been a theme all season.
"Even in the regular season, our home record wasn't as good as our road record," Grimes noted. "We know that, so coming into the game tonight, we gotta do whatever it takes to protect our home floor."
With their season on the line, the Sixers are embracing the moment. The energy is high, the focus is sharp, and the message is clear: leave everything on the court. Game 6 tips off tonight in Philadelphia.