Paul George becomes Playoff P, Tyrese Maxey rebounds and more from the Sixers’ win to force Game 7

Joel Embiid stood in the paint as Jordan Walsh tumbled to the floor and fell in the direction of his legs. Embiid went horizontal, diving over Walsh and kicking right into pushups after he hit the floor.

The 76ers held off the Boston Celtics’ last-ditch effort with an all-reserve lineup on the floor. They cruised to a 106-93, wire-to-wire victory in Game 6 to force an improbable winner-take-all matchup in Boston on Saturday.

Paul George had his best performance as a Sixer, Tyrese Maxey had the most prolific first half in his NBA career, and Joel Embiid had a third stellar performance since returning from an appendectomy.

» READ MORE: Believe it: The Sixers’ stunning dominance in Game 6 has Boston on ropes

Sensing that the Sixers would even the best-of-seven series at three games apiece, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla cleared his bench with more than nine minutes left in regulation. His stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, played admirably in the first half. However, things started to fall apart after the Sixers outscored Boston in the second and third quarters, 62-40, and came out with another flurry to start the fourth quarter.

Most concerning for the Celtics, Tatum appeared to injure his left leg and did not reenter the game, but Mazzulla said after the game that Tatum “went in the back, just got stretched, got some treatment.”

Here are three other things we learned from Game 6.

This is the George the Sixers signed to a four-year, $211.6 million deal two off-seasons ago. George saved his absolute best for the playoffs, making good on the “Playoff P” he knighted himself with. While the nickname has elicited laughs in the past, this was a performance that makes you take George’s successful stint since returning from his 25-game suspension just as seriously.

George looked more fluid than he has in years on offense, firing shots off screens with confidence and dominating defenders in isolation sets. He continued the stellar defense that has been his trademark in this series, spending time on both Tatum and Brown.

George contributed 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. He also got Brown in early foul trouble to slow the Celtics’ two-man offense.

Maxey carried the Sixers all season, producing big numbers and answering the call when the team needed him most. And while those counting stats were still there the Sixers’ best-of-seven, first-round series against the Boston Celtics, Maxey labored to earn his averages of 25.6 points, 6.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds entering Game 6.

He was shooting 43.2% from the field and 39.1% from three in the previous five games of the series. Solid numbers on the surface, but Maxey shot 7-for-14 in a Game 4 blowout that sent him to the bench early and was a combined 23-for-59 in Games 2 and 3.

» READ MORE: 76ers defeat the Celtics, force a Game 7 in Boston

Needless to say, he was poised for a breakout performance. And Maxey did so in Game 6, posting 21 points in the first half and doing it at all three levels, making all three of his looks from deep and completing crafty finishes from the midrange and at the rim. He finished with 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting.

He helped push the Sixers to a 58-49 in the first half, including a 38-26 advantage in the second. From there, the flood gates opened. George continued his stellar postseason, Embiid kicked into gear, and Kelly Oubre Jr., scored a few buckets, including a dunk off a nifty behind-the-back pass from Embiid.

He finished the night with more heroics, completing a looping layup after challenging big man Nikola Vučević at the rim.

As Inquirer columnist David Murphy wrote earlier this week, this is what the Sixers envisioned with that created a roster centered around Embiid, George and Maxey.

Unlike past years, this is a functional team, one that still has a chance when Embiid plays what he would be consider a pedestrian game. The big man posted 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Nothing to scoff at.

But this is the first version of the Sixers that allows him to play as a facilitator, defender and run stopper. He was still there to steady his team when it looked like the Celtics’ all-reserve roster had a chance to make things interesting late. And he was still there to get Oubre going with a nifty behind-the-back pass for a dunk, and helped VJ Edgecombe come out of his shooting slump.

All in all, this was a best-case for the Sixers. They forced Game 7 without Embiid needing to expend too much energy. Like the Celtics starters, he should be fresh for Saturday-Sunday’s season-deciding game.