The Boston Celtics took a 3-1 lead in the first round of the Eastern Conference, pushing the Philadelphia 76ers to the brink of elimination. But, according to Charles Barkley, the consequences of the first-round exit may push the 76ers to make radical roster changes this summer.

Payton Pritchard made six of Boston’s 24 3-pointers and scored 32 points and Jayson Tatum had 30 points and 11 assists to help the Boston Celtics spoil Joel Embiid’s return from an appendectomy and beat the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 on Sunday night for a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Joel Embiid has missed the first three games of the Philadelphia 76ers’ first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics. The former NBA MVP underwent an appendectomy on April 10 and has since been out of action for the Sixers.

Joel Embiid deliberately avoided answering a question about his relationship with 76ers President Daryl Morey.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid's surprise return only 17 days after having an appendectomy fell flat and did nothing to help the Philadelphia 76ers stay competitive with Boston. Embiid had 26 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes,

Payton Pritchard scored a career-playoff-high 32 points off the bench and the Boston Celtics took a 3-1 series lead with a convincing 128-96 road victory over the ​Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night.

Although Joel Embiid returned to the floor following an appendectomy, the 76ers lost by 32 points to the Celtics, the second-worst home playoff loss in franchise history.

"These are single-possession games and every possession really matters," says Tyrese Maxey after losing Game 3.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid returned to the court for Sunday's blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Playoff matchup.