76ers-Celtics news: Sixers look to even the series; Joel Embiid status update; series jumps to NBC

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have combined to score 156 points against the 76ers in three games of their first-round series.

That's almost half of the Celtics' production in the series, and it still feels like we haven't seen Tatum at his best with the exception of the closing moments of Game 3.

It takes a special mentality to defend players like that.

It seems every member of the 76ers has a story about Paul George's mentorship.

Now in his 16th season, George has seen a little bit of everything. He's a nine-time All-Star and one of the early prototypes for the integration of three-and-D philosophy.

So when he speaks players like Justin Edwards, who admitted to modeling his game after George, are going to listen.

With 37.7 seconds left in Game 3 of their first-round series, the 76ers were in a good place. They'd defended the Celtics well and Nikola Vučević had just missed a three-pointer in the one-possession game.

But then Derrick White corralled the rebound and got the ball to Jayson Tatum. Boston's star wing then drained eight seconds off the shot clock and knocked down a back-breaking three from 29 feet.

It was one of several possessions where the Sixers defended well but failed to finish with the play with a rebound. Boston had 15 offensive rebounds in the game and won the rebounding battle, 30-24.

Another game, another channel.

Game 4 between the 76ers and Boston Celtics jumps to NBC, with Mike Tirico calling the action alongside Reggie Miller. Zora Stephenson will report from Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Sixers-Celtics series has been all over the dial, including ABC, NBC Sports Network, and streaming on Amazon Prime Video, all thanks to the NBA's new 11-year, $76 billion rights deals that also robbed NBC Sports Philadelphia of airing the games in and around Philadelphia.

Justin Edwards said following the Sixers’ shootaround that Joel Embiid (appendectomy) participated in “a little bit” of the team session ahead of Sunday night’s Game 4 against the Boton Celtics.

“Looking forward to seeing if he’s able to play or not,” Edwards said.

Embiid, who has not played since his April 9 surgery, was still listed as doubtful on the NBA’s noon injury report. He went through an individual on-court workout Saturday afternoon, coach Nick Nurse said, and participated in part of Thursday’s practice ahead of Game 3.

VJ Edgecombe recognizes that he has probably become “annoying” to Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr.

But the 76ers’ rookie guard will continue peppering his veteran teammates with “nonstop” questions throughout their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

“I just go there talking to them about any little thing I see,” Edgecombe said following Thursday’s practice. “Is this how it’s supposed to be? Is this how it’s not supposed to be?