
The apology was direct. Johnson acknowledged that he had counted Philadelphia out after Game 4, admitted he had underestimated the team’s resolve, and praised both the players and head coach Nick Nurse for executing a game plan that neutralized one of the East’s most dangerous offenses. He gave particular credit to Nurse for instilling a belief in his team that they could win on the road in Boston — and for Tuesday night, at least, that belief proved justified.