Andre Iguodala

There was a collective deep breath after the Celtics eliminated the Atlanta Hawks in six games Thursday night with a 3-point win. Those weren't sighs of relief, however, over their next opponent. While the Philadelphia 76ers are the eighth seed and barely made the playoffs after a collapse in the final month, they present a definite challenge to the Celtics despite their youth and inexperience. The 76ers beat the Celtics by a combined 45 points in two games at Wells Fargo Arena during the regular season, outclassing the Celtics with athleticism and defense.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — 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. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo could be playing their last game together Saturday night if they can't find a way to hang onto the ball and put away a Sixers team that won't quit.

PHILADELPHIA - Going into Friday night's game, there were multiple members of the Sixers who had underperformed or even disappeared in this series against the Celtics. Lou Williams was one of them, not able to demonstrate the shot-making, shot-creating ability that made Celtics coach Doc Rivers nervous before the series. Then came Game 4. Or, specifically, the second half of Game 4. "Once you're down, 2-1, and you're down 18 at one point, everything goes out the window," Williams said.

PHILADELPHIA – Despite the sometimes erratic, sometimes turnover-filled play of Evan Turner, Sixers coach Doug Collins has encouraged the guard not to shy away, not to stop being competitive to cut down on the mistakes. "It is what it is, man," Turner said, before Game 6. "We all make mistakes, we're going to mess up. I'm not going to be concerned with messing up or errors or anything like that. "I'm coming out to compete. Basketball's not perfect. If it was, I would be shooting 1,000 percent, no turnovers and stuff like that.

WALTHAM - There was a reason for the Celtics' defensive struggles in the second half of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night. Coach Doc Rivers stuck with his small lineup down the stretch, hoping to boost the offense. The result was an offensive boon for the 76ers, especially forward Andre Iguodala, who scored 8 points in the final 3:11 of the Philadelphia win. Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Avery Bradley, and Rajon Rondo could do little to stop Philadelphia in the fourth quarter.

PHILADELPHIA - Andre Iguodala hit the 3-pointer that brought the house down, that brought Sixers fans to their feet and the Celtics to their knees. With 36.9 seconds left in a game that looked wrapped up for the Celtics, Iguodala finished his best quarter of the series with a dagger. It put the Sixers up, 88-83. The Celtics never hit another shot. He had been mostly invisible offensively against the Celtics, sometimes playing good defense against Paul Pierce. Iguodala had struggled early Friday night, scoring just 3 points in the first half as the...

Andre Iguodala squared up for a 3-pointer from the wing like he had hundreds of times in his career. This shot was different from all the others. Iguodala continued a postseason where his final numbers don't pop on the box score, but the buckets are as pivotal as they get. He snapped a tie game with five straight points in the final 90 seconds to help the Philadelphia 76ers storm back from 18 points down in the third quarter and stun the Boston Celtics 92-83 on Friday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff PHILADELPHIA -- The Celtics' offensive explosion was the story Wednesday night, but something tells me we're going to go back to talking about defense in Game 4. The Sixers were 1-11 during the regular season when giving up 100 points or more. There was something disappointing about Philly's lack of effort on the defensive side of the ball in Game 3. Expect more muck tonight. Here are the details for tonight's game: Tip-off: 8 p.m. Series: Celtics lead, 2-1 Broadcast info: ESPN, WEEI/850 AM/93.7 FM (Sean...

PHILADELPHIA - At first glance, you'd never know the 76ers' season was on the line as they prepared to play the Celtics in Game 6. Andre Iguodala and Jodie Meeks were yukking it up Tuesday, taking turns shooting free throws at the end of what could be their final practice - with Iguodala draining 17 straight from the line, if you can believe that. And coach Doug Collins spent a good half-hour on the elliptical machine, which he says he'll need to do to keep up with his newborn granddaughter.

WALTHAM - There was a reason for the Celtics' defensive struggles in the second half of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night. Coach Doc Rivers stuck with his small lineup down the stretch, hoping to boost the offense. The result was an offensive boon for the 76ers, especially forward Andre Iguodala , who scored 8 points in the final 3:11 of the Philadelphia win. Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce , Ray Allen , Avery Bradley , and Rajon Rondo could do little to stop Philadelphia in the fourth quarter.

PHILADELPHIA - After four straight games in which he played fewer than 18 minutes, Elton Brand suddenly has regained his minutes and his standing, despite the injuries that continue to limit him. He played well in Game 5, and again in Game 6, earning more than 34 minutes in Wednesday night's series-extending Sixers win. Brand made 5 of 9 shots from the field for 13 points and he had 10 rebounds. "You can't do much if you're on the bench watching," Brand said. "Coach trusted me with some minutes out there, and when I'm out there we could give it all. " Coach Doug Collins relied far more on his starters in Game...

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. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo could be playing their last game together Saturday night if they can't find a way to hang onto the ball and put away a Sixers team that won't quit.

PHILADELPHIA - At first glance, you'd never know the 76ers' season was on the line as they prepared to play the Celtics in Game 6. Andre Iguodala and Jodie Meeks were yukking it up Tuesday, taking turns shooting free throws at the end of what could be their final practice - with Iguodala draining 17 straight from the line, if you can believe that. And coach Doug Collins spent a good half-hour on the elliptical machine, which he says he'll need to do to keep up with his newborn granddaughter.

WALTHAM - There was a reason for the Celtics' defensive struggles in the second half of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night. Coach Doc Rivers stuck with his small lineup down the stretch, hoping to boost the offense. The result was an offensive boon for the 76ers, especially forward Andre Iguodala , who scored 8 points in the final 3:11 of the Philadelphia win. Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce , Ray Allen , Avery Bradley , and Rajon Rondo could do little to stop Philadelphia in the fourth quarter.

WALTHAM - There was a reason for the Celtics' defensive struggles in the second half of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night. Coach Doc Rivers stuck with his small lineup down the stretch, hoping to boost the offense. The result was an offensive boon for the 76ers, especially forward Andre Iguodala, who scored 8 points in the final 3:11 of the Philadelphia win. Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Avery Bradley, and Rajon Rondo could do little to stop Philadelphia in the fourth quarter.

PHILADELPHIA - Going into Friday night's game, there were multiple members of the Sixers who had underperformed or even disappeared in this series against the Celtics. Lou Williams was one of them, not able to demonstrate the shot-making, shot-creating ability that made Celtics coach Doc Rivers nervous before the series. Then came Game 4. Or, specifically, the second half of Game 4. "Once you're down, 2-1, and you're down 18 at one point, everything goes out the window," Williams said.

There was a collective deep breath after the Celtics eliminated the Atlanta Hawks in six games Thursday night with a 3-point win. Those weren't sighs of relief, however, over their next opponent. While the Philadelphia 76ers are the eighth seed and barely made the playoffs after a collapse in the final month, they present a definite challenge to the Celtics despite their youth and inexperience. The 76ers beat the Celtics by a combined 45 points in two games at Wells Fargo Arena during the regular season, outclassing the Celtics with athleticism and defense.

PHILADELPHIA - Going into Friday night's game, there were multiple members of the Sixers who had underperformed or even disappeared in this series against the Celtics. Lou Williams was one of them, not able to demonstrate the shot-making, shot-creating ability that made Celtics coach Doc Rivers nervous before the series. Then came Game 4. Or, specifically, the second half of Game 4. "Once you're down, 2-1, and you're down 18 at one point, everything goes out the window," Williams said.

Andre Iguodala is winning games for the Sixers and winning over Philadelphia with each clutch basket. Iguodala has long been blamed for the Philadelphia 76ers' eight-year run of painfully mediocre basketball. Before this season, Iguodala had never won a playoff series. He was labeled overpaid, overhyped, and he always led the Sixers in trade rumors. His most memorable shot before April? Most Sixers fans would shrug at the question. This amazing and improbable postseason, though?