Kyrie Irving, Celtics eighty-six the 76ers on Christmas Day

Kyrie Irving raced up court, took barely a moment to slow his momentum and pulled up for a deep 3-pointer with 20 seconds on the shot clock. It was a terrible, poorly timed hero-ball shot.

Of course, he made it.

Irving hit the game-tying shot late in the fourth quarter then 3-pointers on back-to-back Boston possessions in overtime to put the Celtics up for good in their 121-114 win over the 76ers on Christmas. Irving finished with 40 points.

This is the first time multiple players scored 40 on the same Christmas since 1966, when Rick Barry (50), Don Ohl (43) and Bob Boozer (40) each did it. James Harden scored 41 in the Rockets’ win over the Thunder earlier today.

Boston is now 20-3 against Philadelphia — including 4-1 in their second-round playoff series last season — in the last five seasons. Though he played well today, Joel Embiid (34 points and 16 rebounds) clearly still hasn’t found an answer for the Celtics, whom he said “always kick our ass.”