For the first time in franchise history, the Philadelphia 76ers came back from a 3-1 deficit after defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday night.
With the win, the 76ers move on to face the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, which begin on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Also, for the first time in franchise history, the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia. Embiid had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, and Maxey had 30 points, including the team’s final eight points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
The 76ers did get a little help as it was announced that Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum, who returned late in the season after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs last season, would miss the game with left knee stiffness; however, Boston, led by Jaylen Browns’s 33 points, did have five players in double figures, but those five players are the only players who scored for the Celtics.
Philadelphia, which has not defeated the Celtics in a Game 7 since 1982 and lost to Boston in Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs in 2023, finally overcame the Celtics.
Embiid, who was 0-3 in Game 7s, and made it clear he was tired of losing to the Celtics in the playoffs, gave credit to Payton Pritchard, who said the Celtics did not care about Embiid’s return.
“Obviously, I was 0-3 in Game 7s,” he said. “I just wanted to bring the energy tonight. “I saw number 11 on the team before I came back he said they didn’t care if I was playing or not… I think it helps when the other team doesn’t worry about you and have some solid game plan or being prepared for you; he helps you have better games. I thank number 11 for that.”
The 2023 league MVP, who returned in Game 4 after an emergency appendectomy, was limping around at times in Game 7, including late in the game after Maxey fell into his knee, and he had his upper body stretched out on the sideline in the third quarter; he was asked how his body felt after this series. Like he tends to do, Embiid trolled us.
“I feel great,” he said. “I feel amazing. I was faking it.”
This was an amazing feat by the 76ers. No one gave them much of a shot in this series, and many believed it was over after Philadelphia was down 3-1, but Embiid’s return turned the series. Now, defeating the Knicks won’t be easy. The last time these two teams met in the playoffs, the Knicks defeated the 76ers in six hard-fought games in 2024.
Yes, with Embiid, Philadelphia can beat anybody. However, can Embiid get through this series healthy? If they have Embiid for the entire series, the 76ers will defeat the Knicks in six games. If not, they will lose in six.
