The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t just win a Game 7 they rewrote their postseason narrative. In a series that looked finished just days earlier, Philadelphia stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 109-100 on Saturday night, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals and completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent NBA playoff history.
At the center of it all was Joel Embiid, who dominated with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in a commanding Game 7 performance. His impact on the series was even more remarkable considering he missed the first three games after undergoing an appendectomy.
Embiid’s late arrival didn’t slow him down it elevated him into the history books. He became the first player in NBA history to score 100 total points in a playoff series despite sitting out the first three games.
Alongside him, Tyrese Maxey delivered a masterpiece of his own: 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The duo etched their names into another rare milestone, becoming just the third pair in league history to each record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a Game 7.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe added 23 points, while Paul George chipped in 13, giving Philadelphia the balanced scoring punch it needed to close out the comeback.
The night took a dramatic turn before tipoff when Jayson Tatum was ruled out with left knee stiffness, leaving Boston without its superstar in the biggest game of the season.
Despite the absence, Jaylen Brown rose to the challenge with 33 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White added 26 points, including five 3-pointers. Neemias Queta contributed a strong 17-point, 12-rebound effort.
Still, the Celtics couldn’t overcome their shooting struggles, going just 13-of-49 from beyond the arc a trend that plagued them throughout the final three games of the series.
Boston’s early hole proved costly. A reworked starting lineup featuring Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, and Ron Harper Jr. fell behind 9-0 and never fully recovered. Philadelphia led for all but 31 seconds of the game.
The Celtics showed fight, opening the fourth quarter on a 16-4 run to cut the deficit to 92-91. For a moment, it felt like Boston might complete a comeback of its own.
With just over a minute remaining and the Sixers clinging to a 101-98 lead, he sliced through the defense for a crucial layup. Boston missed its next four shots, and Maxey calmly sealed the game at the free-throw line.
For Boston, the loss marks a stunning collapse. The Celtics entered the series with a 32-0 record when leading 3-1 now 32-1 and suffered their earliest playoff exit since the 2020-21 season.
For Philadelphia, it’s a measure of long-awaited revenge. The memory of their Game 7 blowout loss to Boston in the 2023 playoffs lingered until now. The Sixers also improved to just 2-10 all-time in road Game 7s, with their only other win coming in 1982.
The seventh-seeded 76ers now turn their attention to the next challenge: a second-round matchup against the New York Knicks. Game 1 tips off Monday night in New York and if this series proved anything, it’s that Philadelphia is far from finished. After staring elimination in the face, the Sixers are suddenly one of the most dangerous teams left in the playoffs.
