Ray Allen continues to play through his ankle injury and didn't score a field goal in the fourth quarter.
But his presence on the floor is effective even if it is as a decoy. Because the Sixers must respect his three-point shot, they are limited in their double-teaming opportunities and are spaced more throughout the halfcourt.
“I mean, I thought 10 different times he was hurt again,’’ Doc Rivers. “He hit the floor four or five times. Ray is just tough. I mean, I don’t think we realize how - his foot’s bothering him and he’s playing terrific. The stretch when he came in again with the second unit, that was a big stretch for us. It gave us some hope.’’