76ers Complete Historic 3-1 Comeback, Stun Celtics 109-100 in Game 7

Key facts

• Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series.
• Joel Embiid scored 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Sixers.
• Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia.
• Rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including 5 three-pointers.
• Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points on 12-for-27 shooting.
• Derrick White scored 26 points but shot 9-for-27 from the field.
• Celtics shot 13-for-49 from three-point range as a team.
• Jayson Tatum missed the game due to knee stiffness; Boston's three other starters (Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Luka Garza) were held scoreless.

Sixers Erase 3-1 Deficit, Win First Game 7 in Embiid Era

The Philadelphia 76ers made history on Saturday night, completing the first 3-1 series comeback in franchise history by defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 at TD Garden. The victory propels Philadelphia into the second round, where they will face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday. For the Sixers, the win marks their first Game 7 victory in the Joel Embiid era; the franchise had previously been 0-3 in such games with Embiid on the roster. It also ends a 44-year drought of playoff series wins over Boston, as Philadelphia had lost its last six series against the Celtics.

Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe Power Philadelphia's Offense

Joel Embiid delivered a game-high 34 points on 12-for-26 shooting, along with 12 rebounds and six assists, playing 39 minutes despite two collisions to his knee and a brief trip to the locker room. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points on 11-for-20 shooting, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in 45 minutes, icing the game with several clutch baskets down the stretch. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe contributed 23 points on 8-for-17 shooting, making 5 of his 11 three-point attempts, along with six rebounds and four assists in 43 minutes. Paul George, listed as questionable due to illness, scored 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting while providing strong defensive play.

Celtics Stung by Tatum's Absence and Offensive Struggles

The Celtics entered Game 7 without superstar Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out with knee stiffness. Tatum had returned from an Achilles tear just 298 days prior and averaged 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—Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., Luka Garza, and Hugo Gonzalez—that had never played together in the regular season. That trio of Scheierman, Harper Jr., and Garza combined for zero points in 53 minutes. Only five Celtics players scored overall, and the team shot 13-for-49 from three-point range, including a stretch of eight consecutive missed shots after cutting the deficit to 99-98 with 3:49 remaining.

Brown and White Shine in Losing Effort for Boston

Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 33 points on 12-for-27 shooting, capping a first-team All-NBA caliber season. Derrick White added 26 points in 45 minutes, though he shot 9-for-27 from the field and 5-for-16 from three, doing most of his damage in the first half (19 points). Despite their efforts, Boston's offense became dangerously top-heavy. The Celtics' inability to generate scoring from their bench and role players proved fatal, especially as Philadelphia's stars maintained their production throughout the game.

Historic Collapse Adds to Celtics' Playoff Heartbreak

The loss marks the first time in Celtics history that the team has blown a 3-1 series lead. It continues a pattern of playoff disappointments: last season, Boston blew 20-point leads in the first two games of a series against the Knicks, losing in six; three years ago, they fell behind 3-0 to the Heat before losing in seven. Boston won 56 games during the regular season, including 30 at TD Garden, and secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The season was widely considered a success given Tatum's recovery from a torn Achilles, but the first-round exit represents the team's earliest playoff departure since 2021.

What's Next: Sixers Face Knicks in Second Round

The Philadelphia 76ers will travel to New York to face the Knicks in the second round, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The Sixers, who entered the playoffs through the play-in tournament, will look to continue their momentum against a Knicks team that finished the regular season as the No. 3 seed. For the Celtics, the offseason begins earlier than expected. With Tatum's health a lingering concern and key decisions looming on roster construction, Boston faces a summer of reflection after a season that promised much but ended in disappointment.

The bottom line

• Philadelphia 76ers become the 14th team in NBA history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-1.
• Joel Embiid recorded his first career Game 7 victory, finishing with 34 points and 12 rebounds.
• Jayson Tatum missed Game 7 due to knee stiffness, leaving Boston without its primary offensive engine.
• Boston's three non-Brown/White starters combined for zero points in 53 minutes.
• The Celtics shot 13-for-49 from three-point range and missed eight straight shots in the final four minutes.
• Philadelphia advances to face the New York Knicks in the second round, beginning Monday.