76ers complete historic 3-1 comeback, oust Celtics 109-100 in Game 7

Key facts

• Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 on Saturday night.
• The Sixers became the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-1.
• Joel Embiid scored 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists in 39 minutes.
• Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in 45 minutes.
• Rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed 23 points, including 5 three-pointers.
• Jayson Tatum missed the game due to a left leg injury, later reported as a stiff knee.
• Boston shot 13-for-49 from three-point range in Game 7.
• The Celtics' three other starters (Scheierman, Harper Jr., Garza) combined for 0 points.

Historic collapse in Beantown

The Philadelphia 76ers etched their names into NBA lore on Saturday night, storming back from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 at TD Garden. The victory marked the first 3-1 comeback in franchise history and the 14th such feat in league history. For Boston, the loss ends a 56-win regular season in bitter fashion. The Celtics, who entered the playoffs as the second seed, became the first team in franchise history to blow a 3-1 series lead. The defeat also marks Boston's earliest playoff exit since 2021.

Embiid and Maxey power Philadelphia past demons

Joel Embiid delivered a game-high 34 points on 12-for-26 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and six assists. The Sixers' center played through two collisions to his knee, briefly retreating to the locker room before returning with a wrap around his midsection. He logged 39 minutes, presenting problems the Celtics could not solve. Tyrese Maxey contributed 30 points on 11-for-20 shooting, along with 11 rebounds and seven assists in 45 minutes. He iced the game with several clutch buckets down the stretch. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe added 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including 5 of 11 from three-point range, plus six rebounds and four assists in 43 minutes. Paul George, listed as questionable due to illness, scored 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting and played strong defense. The win was Philadelphia's first in a Game 7 during the Embiid era, having previously gone 0-3. The Sixers also snapped a six-series losing streak against Boston; their last series win over the Celtics came 44 years ago.

Tatum's absence looms large for Celtics

Jayson Tatum was unexpectedly ruled out before the game with what the Celtics called a stiff knee, though observers noted he appeared to injure his calf in Game 6. Tatum had returned this season from an Achilles tear suffered 298 days earlier, averaging 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 16 regular-season games. His absence forced coach Joe Mazzulla to deploy a starting lineup of Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White — a unit that had never played together during the regular season. The trio of Scheierman, Harper Jr., and Luka Garza combined for zero points in 53 minutes. Only five of Boston's 10 rotation players scored.

Brown and White shine in losing effort

Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 33 points on 12-for-27 shooting, while Derrick White added 26 points in 45 minutes, doing most of his damage in the first half with 19 points. However, White shot 9-for-27 overall and 5-for-16 from deep. As a team, the Celtics shot 13-for-49 from three-point range, continuing a series-long trend of poor perimeter shooting: they shot 12-for-41 in Game 6 and 11-for-39 in Game 5. After cutting the Sixers' lead to 99-98 with 3 minutes 49 seconds remaining, Boston missed eight consecutive shots, sealing their fate.

A season of what-ifs for Boston

The Celtics' regular season was widely considered a success, given expectations of a 'gap year' after Tatum's injury. Boston won 56 games, including 30 at TD Garden, and secured the second seed. Brown delivered a first-team All-NBA caliber season, White provided versatility, and Payton Pritchard emerged as a scoring threat. Yet the playoff collapse fits a troubling pattern. Last year, Boston blew 20-point leads in the first two games of a series against the Knicks, eventually losing in six. Three years ago, they fell behind 3-0 to the Heat before losing in seven. Critics have long accused the Celtics of 'playing with their food' — losing focus when ahead.

What's next: Sixers face Knicks, Celtics face offseason questions

The 76ers advance to the second round and will face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Philadelphia, which entered the playoffs via the play-in tournament, will look to continue its momentum against a Knicks team that finished with a better regular-season record. For the Celtics, the offseason begins earlier than expected. Tatum's health will be a central concern, as this marks the third time in four years he has been injured during a playoff series that ended Boston's season. The team must also address its offensive inconsistency and depth issues, particularly the inability of role players to contribute in high-leverage moments.

The bottom line

• Philadelphia became the 14th NBA team to win a series after trailing 3-1, and the first in franchise history to do so.
• Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 64 points, 23 rebounds, and 13 assists in the decisive Game 7 win.
• Jayson Tatum's absence due to a leg injury was a critical factor; Boston's makeshift starting lineup failed to score a single point.
• The Celtics shot 13-for-49 from three-point range in Game 7, continuing a series-long trend of poor shooting.
• Boston's playoff exit marks the earliest since 2021 and adds to a history of blown leads and untimely injuries.
• The Sixers will face the New York Knicks in the second round, beginning Monday at Madison Square Garden.