NBA highlights in March 20: 76ers refuse to be swept by Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers avoided being swept by the Boston Celtics with a 118-115 victory at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday, thanks to the incredible performance by Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler. Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder almost got a 20-point-comeback-win at home against the Toronto Raptors before they lost 123-114 in overtime.

76ers owe their win to Embiid and Butler

Joel Embiid (L) and Jimmy Butler (R) of the Philadelphia 76ers talk to each other after their 118-115 victory against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center, March 20. /VCG Photo

Embiid dropped a big double-double of 37 points and 22 rebounds for Philadelphia. The other four of their first-lineup also scored double-digit points: Jimmy Butler had 22, Tobias Harris 18, J.J. Reddick 17 and Ben Simmons 13.

Kyrie Irving put down Boston's highest 36 points and nine rebounds. Al Horford and Jayson Tatum claimed respectively 22 and 13 points. Terry Rozier contributed 20 points from the bench.

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Celtics shoots a three-pointer in the game against the 76ers, March 20. /VCG Photo

In their past 19 games, the Celtics beat the 76ers 17 times and they seemed to continue that record in the first quarter as Irving buried two straight shots from the 3-pt line before he scoring 16 points. By contrast, Philadelphia were struggling in offense with a field goal rate of only 38.5 percent, which's why they trailed 39-30 in Q1.

The second quarter went on with a similar scenario despite that the 76ers changed their defense a bit. Boston continued their smooth offense to their lead to 11 points (69-58).

Embiid #21 of the 76ers is pushed from behind by Marcus Smart of the Celtics in the game, March 20. /VCG Photo

The turning point came in the third quarter from Embiid. He first inflamed Marcus Smart who then shoved him to the ground. Such an act got the Celtics guard a Flagrant 2 foul, leading to his ejection, meaning that the Celtics lost their best outside defensive player. Then Embiid began his dominance of the game by getting 15 points and seven rebounds and earned eight free throws in the quarter. Thanks to is efforts, Philadelphia managed to narrow the difference down to five points (90-85).

Though carrying his team in Q3 was quite a drain on Embiid who only got four points in the last quarter, the 76ers had four All-Star-level players and this time Butler stood out. He contributed 15 points in Q4 and made sank three three-pointers. When his last jump shot fell into the net, the 76ers expanded their lead to five points (118-113) with only 5.5 seconds to go in the game, leaving no hope for Boston to turn the situation.

OKC almost perform miracle before overtime

Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder penetrates in the game they lose to the Toronto Raptors 123-114 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, March 20. /VCG Photo

Toronto saw all of their five starting players score double digits. Pascal Siakam had the most with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Fred VanVleet got 23 points. Kawhi Leonard put down 22 points and 10 rebounds. Danny Green and Marc Gasol respectivelyclaimed 17 and 10 points.

By contrast, Oklahoma City only had three players score over 10 points. Russell Westbrook dropped 42 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Paul George had 19 and Dennis Schroder from the bench got 12 points. Jerami Grant though only scored nine points, he grabbed 14 rebounds.

No.4 jersey of Nick Collison of the Thunder is being retired before the game against the Raptors, March 20. /VCG Photo

Collison speaks at the retiring ceremony of his No.4 jersey before the game between the Thunder and the Raptors, March 20. /VCG Photo

Before the game started, OKC held a ceremony to retire the No.4 jersey of Nick Collison at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The 38-year-old power forward spent all 15 seasons of his career with the team under the names of both Seattle Supersonics and Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I could never have expected something like this. But it's really a special night for me and my family. It's been a long run. To be able to have the career I had here and then have a celebration like that, I feel very fortunate. That kind of goes without saying, but it's amazing for me. It's a good feeling coming back. I don't know how to feel for something like this. It's like nothing can prepare you for it," said Collison.

Pascal Siakam #43 of the Raptors shoots in the game against the Thunder, March 20. /VCG Photo

However, the touching ceremony seemed to have backfired. The visiting Raptors did not send their All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry but that did not stop them from pinning down the Thunder with their offense. Toronto finished the first quarter with a crazy FG rate of 71.43 percent (15/21) and a 3-pt rate of 62.5 percent (5/8), leading 39-31.

The second and third quarter did not turn things for the home team, as Toronto kept making tough shots and getting easy points to lead by 20 points at most in Q3. However, such easy game constituted a hidden danger for them later.

Paul George #13 of the Thunder penetrates in the game against the Raptors, March 20. /VCG Photo

The Raptors suddenly lost their focus on the court in the fourth quarter and failed to find it back. OKC took the opportunity and began to come back like thunder. George buried two shots from the 3-pt line, earned three free throws from the there and made all of them before he was fouled out. As Gasol failed to score under the defense of Grant, Westbrook tied the score 110-110 with a layup in transition, dragging the game into OT.

However, the exhausted Thunder fell into scoring drought in the first four minutes of overtime as multiple of their shots were blocked by the rim. The Raptors launched a 9-0 which sealed the victory for them. After Wednesday's loss, OKC fell to No.8 in the Western Conference.

Other games on Wednesday included: (away teams come first)

Milwaukee Bucks 102-107 Cleveland Cavaliers

New Orleans Pelicans 96-119 Orlando Magic

Utah Jazz 137-116 New York Knicks

Washington Wizards 120-126 Chicago Bulls

Houston Rockets 125-126 Memphis Grizzlies

Miami Heat 110-105 San Antonio Spurs

Dallas Mavericks 118-126 Portland Trail Blazers