76ers Stun Celtics in Game 7, Erase 3-1 Deficit for Historic Series Win

Key facts

• 76ers defeated Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 on Saturday at TD Garden.
• Philadelphia trailed 3-1 in the series before winning three straight.
• Joel Embiid recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in Game 7.
• Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points in Game 7; he averaged 27.0 points over the series.
• Celtics star Jayson Tatum missed Game 7 due to knee stiffness.
• Philadelphia advances to face the New York Knicks in the second round.
• Boston shot 29.3% from three-point range in Game 6 and struggled offensively in Game 7.

A Collapse of Historic Proportions in Boston

The Boston Celtics’ championship aspirations evaporated into the TD Garden rafters on Saturday night as they fell 109-100 to the Philadelphia 76ers in a decisive Game 7. After squandering a 3-1 series lead, the Celtics became the latest victim of a historic collapse, allowing Philadelphia to erase a three-game deficit for the first time in the franchise’s history. Playing without superstar Jayson Tatum — sidelined with knee stiffness — Boston navigated a do-or-die scenario without its primary engine. While Jaylen Brown (33 points) and Derrick White (26 points) turned in valiant efforts, the Celtics' offense proved dangerously top-heavy, with only five players finding the scoresheet. The loss marks a somber conclusion to a season defined by remarkable resilience. Tatum’s return from a torn Achilles in under 300 days and Brown’s career-best campaign had secured the No. 2 seed in the East, but a first-round exit feels like a jarring regression for a team with championship expectations.

Philadelphia’s Big Three Delivers When It Matters Most

On the other side, Philadelphia’s star power rose to the occasion. Joel Embiid delivered a legacy-defining performance with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists to secure the first Game 7 victory of his career. He was flanked by a relentless Tyrese Maxey, who poured in 30 points, and a poised V.J. Edgecombe, whose 23 points provided the necessary punch to keep Boston at arm's length. In Game 6, all five Sixers starters scored at least 14 points, with Maxey leading the way with 30 on 11-for-22 shooting. Embiid (19 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) wasn’t efficient but created plenty of open shots for his teammates. Paul George added 23 points in that victory, which forced the winner-take-all finale. Maxey has become a big problem for the Celtics’ defense. He averaged 27 points through the first three games of the series, but on a true shooting percentage of just 48.8%. Over the last three games, he averaged 25.7 on 65.4%. The Sixers are 15-3 when Maxey scores at least 30 points on a true shooting percentage of 60 or better.

Celtics’ Offensive Woes and Tatum’s Injury Prove Costly

Boston’s offensive struggles continued throughout the series. In Game 6, the Celtics shot just 41.9% from the field and 29.3% from three-point range. Jayson Tatum finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown chipped in 18 points. The Celtics had only four players in double figures, and none scored over 20 points. Tatum’s health became a concern after Game 6, when he seemed to have an issue with his lower left leg. “My leg just was a little stiff,” Tatum said, “when I came out in the third quarter.” He had torn his right Achilles less than a year ago. The knee stiffness that kept him out of Game 7 was a devastating blow for a team that had already lost its 3-1 series lead. Despite trailing by as much as 18 in the second half of Game 7, the Celtics displayed the grit that defined their regular season, clawing back to within striking distance late in the fourth. However, a late-game scoring drought allowed the 76ers to pull away and book their second-round date with the New York Knicks.

How Philadelphia Turned the Series Around

After falling behind 3-1, Philadelphia battled back, powered by its Big Three. The Sixers made it happen with a comfortable 106-93 victory in Game 6, the second straight game in which they shot down the Celtics’ high-powered offense. Philly outscored Boston 62-40 over the middle two quarters and had Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla taking his starters out with more than 10 minutes left in the fourth. The Celtics have been “icing” more pick-and-rolls since Game 3, trying to force the ball-handler away from the screener. That strategy was working prior to Game 6, with the Sixers scoring just 0.83 points per chance when an iced screen led directly to a shot, turnover or trip to the line. But in Game 6, the Sixers scored 17 points on eight chances (2.13 per). Philadelphia controlled Game 6 from the jump, feeding off the home crowd and leading for the majority of the game. Boston’s last lead came at the 6:37 mark of the second quarter. With a minute to go in the first half, Philadelphia built a 12-point lead they would never relinquish.

A Series That Flipped on Its Head

That this series has flipped on its head seemed almost impossible last Sunday, when the Celtics embarrassed Philadelphia in a Game 4 win on the Sixers’ home floor. Even when Philadelphia came back and won Game 5 on Tuesday night, it felt like it was delaying the inevitable. But after Game 6, it felt like Philadelphia knew it had a chance to steal the series. No two franchises have played each other more times in NBA history than the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. So appropriately, the 23rd playoff series between them went to a Game 7. The Sixers became the first team since the 2020 Denver Nuggets (who rallied past the Utah Jazz) to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in the first round. For Boston, the loss is a sour end to a season where the Celtics finished second in the East and had their superstar Tatum come back from an achilles injury, along with Brown having the best season of his career. The 76ers move on to the second round, where they will face the New York Knicks.

What Comes Next for Both Franchises

The 76ers now advance to face the New York Knicks in the second round, a matchup that will test whether Philadelphia’s momentum can carry them further. The series shifts back to Boston for Game 7 on Saturday, where the Celtics had gone 30-11 this season and hoped to protect home court. But without Tatum, that hope evaporated. For the Celtics, the offseason will be filled with questions about how a team with championship aspirations could squander a 3-1 lead. The health of Tatum, the offensive consistency, and the supporting cast will all be scrutinized. The Celtics had only five players score in Game 7, a stark contrast to Philadelphia’s balanced attack. One thing can no longer be disputed: this is now anyone’s series. The 76ers have figured out Boston’s offense, defending Tatum and Brown in isolation, forcing them inside the three-point line and staying home on Boston’s shooters. They are rebounding, playing tough and with physicality. They have played the better brand of basketball over the last two games.

The bottom line

• The 76ers became the first team since 2020 to overcome a 3-1 first-round deficit, and the first in franchise history to do so.
• Joel Embiid secured his first career Game 7 victory with a 34-point, 12-rebound, 6-assist performance.
• Tyrese Maxey averaged 25.7 points on 65.4% true shooting over the final three games, becoming a matchup nightmare for Boston.
• Jayson Tatum’s absence in Game 7 due to knee stiffness was a decisive factor; he had also struggled with a leg issue in Game 6.
• Boston’s offense collapsed in the series, shooting under 30% from three in Game 6 and failing to generate balanced scoring in Game 7.
• Philadelphia will face the New York Knicks in the second round, carrying momentum from three straight wins.