Embiid’s 33 Points Keep Sixers Alive as Philadelphia Forces Game 7 in Boston

Key facts

• Joel Embiid scored 33 points in Game 5 after an emergency appendectomy less than three weeks ago.
• Tyrese Maxey recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5.
• Philadelphia won Game 5 113-97 and Game 6 by double digits to tie the series 3-3.
• The Sixers have lost seven consecutive Game 7s since 2011, including four by the 76ers.
• Philadelphia has not eliminated Boston from the playoffs since 1982.
• Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday night in Boston; the winner faces the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
• Jayson Tatum left Game 6 with a calf injury and is questionable for Game 7.

Lede: Sixers Stave Off Elimination in Boston

Joel Embiid scored 33 points, Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 113-97 in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Boston, forcing the series to a sixth game. The victory came less than three weeks after Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy that sidelined him for the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. Philadelphia, the seventh seed, had fallen behind 3-1 after losing Games 3 and 4 at home. But the team responded with back-to-back double-digit wins, including a 113-97 blowout in Game 5, to stay alive and set up a decisive Game 7 on Saturday night in Boston.

Embiid’s Dominant Second Half Propels Philadelphia

Embiid struggled early, scoring just two points on 1-of-6 shooting in the first quarter. But he erupted for 13 points in the second quarter, 10 in the third, and eight in the fourth, when the Sixers unleashed a 12-0 run that turned a three-point lead into a 15-point rout. “He was dominant. Especially the second half, he was extremely dominant,” Maxey said. “He did a really good job of just inserting himself. I was proud of him tonight, man. That’s the dominance that you go into a playoff game with: He did that.” Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, who scored 22 points, acknowledged that Boston failed to make Embiid work. “I feel like he had too many easy baskets,” Brown said. “We’ve got to make him work.... Tonight he got a bunch of easy baskets, and I feel like that propelled him.”

Philadelphia’s Historic Game 7 Drought Looms

Despite the momentum, the Sixers face a daunting historical hurdle. Philadelphia sports teams have lost seven consecutive Game 7s, a streak dating to 2011. The 76ers alone account for four of those losses, including two on the road against the Celtics in 2012 and 2023. In 2012, the Sixers fell 85-75 in Boston as an eighth seed. In 2023, a more talented Philadelphia team was blown out 112-88, with Embiid shooting 5-for-18 and finishing minus-28. The franchise has not eliminated Boston from the playoffs since 1982, losing seven series to the Celtics since then.

Series Trends Favor Philadelphia Despite History

All three of Philadelphia’s wins in this series have come by double digits, including two in Boston. The Sixers have outplayed the Celtics in recent games, with Paul George coming alive, Maxey elevating his play, and rookie VJ Edgecombe showing confidence. Role players Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, and Andre Drummond have also contributed. Embiid has been productive throughout, following his 33-point Game 5 with a near triple-double in Game 6. Meanwhile, Celtics star Jayson Tatum left Game 6 with a calf injury and is expected to play but may be less than 100 percent.

Game 7 Stakes: Winner Faces Knicks in Semifinals

The winner of Saturday’s Game 7 will advance to face the third-seeded New York Knicks, who clinched their Eastern Conference semifinal berth on Thursday night. For Philadelphia, a victory would mark the 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit in NBA history and snap a 15-year Game 7 drought for the city. Boston, which led the series 3-1 after a blowout win in Philadelphia in Game 4, has seen its offense go cold, losing two straight by double digits. The Celtics are heavily favored at home, but the Sixers have been the better team lately.

Outlook: A Franchise’s Psychological Barrier

For Sixers fans, the Game 7 curse is as much psychological as statistical. The team has not advanced past the second round since 2001, and every playoff exit has followed one of two narratives: a respectable loss or an embarrassing collapse. A win on Saturday would provide emotional relief and open a path to a deep playoff run in an Eastern Conference that would be significantly weaker without Boston. “A win on Saturday night would be so emotionally refreshing for this Sixers fanbase,” one observer noted. “You’re actually going to be nervous for a game in this series instead of just watching and waiting for the blowout loss to commence.”

The bottom line

• Joel Embiid’s 33-point performance in Game 5, following an emergency appendectomy, kept Philadelphia’s season alive.
• The Sixers have won two straight games by double digits to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-1.
• Philadelphia has lost seven consecutive Game 7s across all sports, including four by the 76ers.
• The 76ers have not eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs since 1982, losing seven series to Boston since then.
• Jayson Tatum’s calf injury could impact Boston’s performance in Game 7.
• The winner of Game 7 will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.