The Eastern Conference semifinals will feature a showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, a result made possible by the 14th instance of a team overcoming a 3-1 deficit in NBA playoffs history.
Philadelphia secured their third consecutive victory in an elimination game, triumphing 109-100 in Game 7 on Saturday. This win ousted the Boston Celtics, who were without their star player Jayson Tatum due to a stiff knee. The win was hard-fought, mirroring the challenging nature of the entire series.
This remarkable comeback defied several historical trends in the NBA. Prior to Saturday, the Celtics boasted an unblemished 32-0 record in series where they held a 3-1 advantage, marking the most such wins without a single loss by any team. Conversely, the Sixers had a 0-18 record when trailing 3-1 in a series, representing the most losses without a win for any franchise.
Furthermore, Philadelphia becomes the inaugural No. 7 seed to defeat a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference since the first round expanded to a best-of-seven format in 2003. This also marks the 76ers’ initial playoff series victory since 2023.
Joel Embiid was instrumental in Game 7, recording 34 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and just 1 turnover. Tyrese Maxey also delivered an outstanding performance with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 turnover. This makes them only the third tandem ever to achieve a dual 30-point, 10-rebound performance in a road Game 7.
The only other duo to accomplish this feat was Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant back in 2002.
The second-round series between the Sixers and the Knicks is slated to commence on Monday.
Joel Embiid’s Definitive Performance
No individual player had more at stake in this contest than Embiid, who invited considerable scrutiny by declaring his “tired of losing” sentiment to the Celtics after Game 6.
The Embiid-led Sixers had previously been defeated 0-3 in playoff series by the Celtics, and Philadelphia had not overcome Boston in the postseason since 1982. This history, coupled with Embiid’s generally inconsistent postseason track record, set the stage for intense criticism if the Sixers had lost.
Embiid, however, ensured such an outcome did not materialize. Despite battling several injury scares, including Maxey inadvertently falling into his knees late in the fourth quarter, this victory was undeniably his.
Maxey also delivered a monumental effort in the final quarter, contributing eight of Philadelphia’s last 10 points as the Celtics experienced a cold streak, missing 10 consecutive shots in the last five minutes.
Such a deep playoff run seemed improbable at the outset of the playoffs. Embiid had been sidelined since early April following an emergency appendectomy, adding to his extensive injury history, and he did not return to action until Game 4.
He ultimately became the first player in NBA annals to amass at least 100 points in a series despite being absent for the initial three games.
Jaylen Brown Accuses Joel Embiid of Exaggeration
One individual who held a less favorable view of Embiid’s performance was Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who engaged in frequent verbal exchanges with the center throughout the game. While Brown conceded that the Celtics struggled to contain Embiid, he also accused him of repeatedly embellishing contact:
“Embiid exerted significant pressure on us, on all of our big men and our guards. We genuinely lacked a solution for him. We attempted various strategies. He possesses a large physique. He also consistently flopped. He received some preferential calls, and they rewarded him for that, but that is the nature of our league.”
Brown concluded the game with 22 points on 12-of-27 shooting, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
V.J. Edgecombe Also Delivers a Stellar Performance
V.J. Edgecombe, projected as the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has consistently impressed for the Sixers throughout the season. His strong play continued in Game 7, demonstrating prowess on both ends of the court.
The 20-year-old recorded 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. He is only the second player aged 20 or younger to register at least 20 points in a Game 7. The first player to achieve this was Jayson Tatum.
Defensively, he took on the assignment of guarding Derrick White, the Celtics’ leading scorer from the first half, effectively neutralizing him in the second half.
Assessing the Celtics’ Season Outcome
Few teams have experienced such a dramatic shift in their season’s narrative as the Celtics this year.
They commenced the 2025-26 season with tempered expectations after Tatum suffered an Achilles tear in the previous year’s playoffs. However, optimism grew as they consistently performed as one of the top teams in the East. With Tatum’s eventual return, this hope escalated into boundless anticipation.
Now, it may be most appropriate for the Celtics to simply accept that this was not their year, as there seems no other logical way to reconcile an elimination from a series that involved a cascade of unprecedented historical events.
