Sixers Stun Celtics in Game 7, Completing Historic 3-1 Comeback

Key facts

• Philadelphia 76ers defeated Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round.
• The Sixers became the first seven-seed to beat a two-seed in a best-of-seven since 2003.
• Philadelphia is the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
• Joel Embiid recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in the decisive game.
• Tyrese Maxey tallied 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
• Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
• The Celtics shot 13-for-49 from three-point range in Game 7, missing eight straight after cutting the lead to 99-98.
• Philadelphia will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

A Collapse of Historic Proportions

The Boston Celtics entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed with a 56-26 record, a top-five offense and defense, and the confidence of a team that had won 13 of its final 16 games after Jayson Tatum's return from an Achilles tear. They took a 3-1 lead in the first-round series against the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, a position from which NBA teams had advanced 259 times without a single failure in a best-of-seven format. That record now has an asterisk. The Celtics lost the next three games, culminating in a 109-100 defeat in Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday night. It was the first time in franchise history that Boston surrendered a 3-1 series lead, and it ended a season that had been widely viewed as a pleasant surprise—a "gap year" that overachieved—with a thud that will echo through the offseason.

Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe Power the Rally

Philadelphia’s comeback was orchestrated by its three leading scorers. Joel Embiid, who has often been criticized for his playoff performances, delivered 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in Game 7, dominating the paint and drawing fouls with his signature blend of size and skill. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, consistently attacking the rim and hitting timely jumpers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists, providing a spark that the Sixers lacked in the early games of the series. The trio’s production was consistent throughout the comeback. In Game 6, Maxey led with 30 points, Paul George scored 23, and Embiid posted a near triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. That 106-93 victory at Xfinity Mobile Arena forced the winner-take-all finale and shifted the momentum decisively in Philadelphia’s favor.

Boston’s Offensive Woes and Tatum’s Absence

The Celtics’ offense, which ranked second in the league in offensive rating during the regular season, disintegrated under playoff pressure. Over the final three games, Boston shot 11-for-39 from three in Game 5, 12-for-41 in Game 6, and 13-for-49 in Game 7. In the closing minutes of the decisive game, the Celtics cut the Sixers’ lead to 99-98 with 3:49 remaining, then missed eight consecutive shots—a stretch of offensive futility that sealed their fate. Jayson Tatum, who had averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 16 regular-season games after returning from an Achilles tear, did not play in Game 7. The Celtics cited a stiff knee, but Tatum had exited Game 6 with what appeared to be a calf injury, a condition that often precedes Achilles problems. His absence left Jaylen Brown—who scored 33 points in Game 7—and Derrick White (26 points) to carry the scoring load alone, a task that proved insufficient against Philadelphia’s balanced attack.

Mazzulla’s Gamble and the Bench’s Emptiness

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla attempted to shake up the lineup in Game 7, starting Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. alongside Brown and White. The move was intended to inject energy and defensive versatility, but it backfired spectacularly. That trio, along with Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza, combined for zero points in 53 minutes of playing time. The only positive from the bench was Gonzalez’s contribution to a 16-2 run, but it was not nearly enough. Mazzulla also made the overdue decision to keep center Nikola Vucevic on the bench for the entire game, but the lack of production from the supporting cast exposed the team’s depth issues. The Celtics’ offense, which had relied on three-point shooting all season, became one-dimensional and predictable, allowing Philadelphia to defend the arc without fear of interior punishment.

Historical Context and What Comes Next

Philadelphia’s victory is laden with historical significance. The Sixers are the first seven-seed to defeat a two-seed in a best-of-seven series since the NBA expanded the first round to seven games in 2003. They are also the 14th team in league history to overcome a 3-1 deficit. For the franchise, it is the first playoff series win over the Celtics since 1982, ending a 44-year drought. The Sixers now advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they will face the New York Knicks. The series will begin on the road, but Philadelphia carries the momentum of a team that has won three consecutive elimination games. For Boston, the offseason begins with questions about the team’s core, its ability to close out series, and the health of its star player. The Celtics have now seen three of the past four postseasons end with Tatum injured during the series that eliminated them—a pattern that will fuel debate about his durability and the team’s construction.

A Series That Belonged to the Underdog

The 76ers’ comeback was not merely a collapse by Boston; it was a testament to Philadelphia’s resilience and tactical adjustments. After falling behind 3-1, the Sixers defended Boston’s isolation plays more aggressively, forcing the Celtics inside the three-point line and staying home on shooters. They rebounded with physicality and played with a desperation that Boston could not match. As one beat writer covering the series noted, the Sixers have figured out Boston’s offense. They have played the better brand of basketball over the last two games, and the series, once seemingly decided, became anyone’s. In the end, it was Philadelphia that seized the moment, turning a 3-1 deficit into a historic triumph and leaving the Celtics to ponder what might have been.

The bottom line

• Philadelphia completed the first 3-1 comeback in Celtics franchise history and the first by a seven-seed over a two-seed since 2003.
• Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe each scored at least 23 points in Game 7, with Embiid recording a double-double.
• Boston shot 13-for-49 from three-point range in Game 7 and missed eight straight shots after cutting the lead to one point.
• Jayson Tatum missed Game 7 with a knee injury, adding to a pattern of postseason injuries for the Celtics star.
• The Sixers will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, carrying momentum from three consecutive elimination-game wins.
• Boston’s loss exposes recurring issues with offensive stagnation and depth, raising questions about the team’s ability to close out series.