Philadelphia celebrates Holiday, tied series

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

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.

Former 76ers All-Star Allen Iverson earned a roaring standing ovation when he presented the game ball. By the end, the fans were on their feet for Holiday, Brand and Andre Iguodala for keeping the eighth-seeded Sixers alive for at least one more game.

The Celtics posted ugly numbers across the board: 33 percent shooting, the 17 turnovers or the 3 for 14 3-point shooting.

Pierce had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Garnett had 20 points and 11 boards.

Heat-Pacers

MIAMI

Heat forward Udonis Haslem has been suspended by the NBA for tonight’s Game 6 of the Miami-Indiana series.

Haslem committed a flagrant foul against Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough during the second quarter of Game 5 on Tuesday night, shortly after Hansbrough struck Miami’s Dwyane Wade and opened a cut over his right eye.

Haslem and Hansbrough were both assessed flagrant-1 fouls on the respective plays. If they were issued flagrant-2 fouls, they would have been ejected. Hansbrough’s foul was upgraded Wednesday to a flagrant-2, but he’s eligible to play in Game 6, while Haslem cannot. Also, Miami reserve forward Dexter Pittman was suspended three games for his flagrant foul against Indiana’s Lance Stephenson late in Game 5.