76ers Force Game 7 Against Celtics, Erasing 3-1 Deficit

Key facts

• 76ers defeated Celtics 106-93 in Game 6 on Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
• Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 30 points; Joel Embiid had 19 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists.
• Boston shot 41.9% from the field and 29.3% from three-point range in Game 6.
• Philadelphia has overcome a 3-1 series deficit for the first time since 2020 (Denver Nuggets).
• The Celtics lead the all-time Game 7 series 6-2; Sunday will be the ninth Game 7 between the franchises.
• Joel Embiid returned from an appendectomy for Game 4, averaging 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists in three games.
• The 76ers are 0-18 all-time in series when trailing 3-1, including 0-5 against the Celtics.

Philadelphia Staves Off Elimination

The Philadelphia 76ers forced a decisive Game 7 in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, winning 106-93 on Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The victory erased a 3-1 series deficit and kept alive the possibility of becoming the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing by that margin. Philadelphia controlled the game from the opening tip, feeding off the home crowd and leading for the majority of the contest. After trailing by three points at the end of the first quarter, the Sixers outscored Boston 62-40 over the second and third periods, turning the game into a blowout.

Big Three Deliver When It Matters Most

Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 30 points, while Paul George added 23 and Joel Embiid recorded a near triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. The trio, which played only 21 games together this season due to injuries and George's 25-game suspension, has found its rhythm at a critical moment. Embiid, returning from an emergency appendectomy that sidelined him for Games 1 through 3, has averaged 26 points, eight rebounds and 7.3 assists in his three games back. His presence has fundamentally altered the series, as Boston has no defender capable of containing the 2023 MVP when he operates in isolation.

Boston's Offensive Struggles Continue

The Celtics shot just 41.9 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from three-point range in Game 6, continuing a pattern of second-half collapses. In Game 5 at TD Garden, Boston scored only 11 points in the fourth quarter and missed its final 16 field goal attempts, squandering a double-digit lead in a 113-97 loss. Jayson Tatum finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Game 6, while Jaylen Brown contributed 18 points. Derrick White remained ice-cold, scoring just six points on 2-of-8 shooting. The Celtics have been outscored by 17 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5 and have struggled to generate consistent offense against Philadelphia's revamped defense.

Defensive Adjustments Turn the Tide

Philadelphia's defensive strategy has been the key to its comeback. The Sixers are defending Tatum and Brown in isolation, forcing them inside the three-point line and staying home on Boston's shooters. They have rebounded with physicality and played with an edge that was absent in the first four games. Nick Nurse, the Sixers' head coach, implemented a plan in Game 5 that let Embiid go to work in isolation more frequently. When Boston responded with hard double-teams in Game 6, Embiid found open teammates, and the offense flowed. Rookie VJ Edgecombe has contributed 13.8 points per game in the series, providing a spark off the bench.

A Rivalry Steeped in History

Sunday's Game 7 will be the ninth between these franchises, with Boston holding a 6-2 advantage in previous winner-take-all matchups. The Celtics have eliminated Philadelphia from the playoffs three times during Embiid's tenure, and the 76ers have not beaten Boston in a playoff series since 1982. “I’ve been playing these guys for so long, I’m tired of losing to them,” Embiid said after Game 6. “We have a chance to accomplish something special.” The Sixers are 0-18 all-time in series when trailing 3-1, including 0-5 against the Celtics, but they now have an opportunity to rewrite that narrative.

Game 7 Showdown in Boston

The series shifts back to TD Garden for Game 7 on Saturday, May 2, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The Celtics have gone 30-11 at home this season and will look to protect their home court after failing to close out the series in Game 5. Boston has been excellent on the road this year, winning both games in Philadelphia during the series, but the momentum now belongs to the Sixers. “This is now anyone’s series,” said a Sixers beat writer. Philadelphia has won two straight games and appears to have solved Boston's offense, while the Celtics face questions about their shooting and depth.

What's at Stake for Both Teams

For Philadelphia, a win would mark the first time since 2020 that a team has rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a first-round series, when the Denver Nuggets overcame the Utah Jazz. It would also end a decades-long drought against their archrivals and validate the Embiid-Maxey-George core. For Boston, a loss would be a stunning collapse after controlling the series through four games. The Celtics have the talent and home-court advantage, but they must rediscover their shooting touch and find answers for Embiid. The outcome will define the season for both franchises.

The bottom line

• Philadelphia forced Game 7 with a 106-93 win, erasing a 3-1 series deficit for the first time since 2020.
• Tyrese Maxey (30 points) and Joel Embiid (near triple-double) led the Sixers, who have won two straight.
• Boston shot under 42% from the field and under 30% from three in Game 6, continuing offensive struggles.
• Embiid's return from appendectomy has transformed the series; he averages 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists.
• The Celtics lead the all-time Game 7 series 6-2, but Philadelphia has momentum and a defensive blueprint.
• Game 7 is Saturday at TD Garden; the winner advances to the second round of the NBA playoffs.