The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a dramatic series comeback to knock out the Boston Celtics 109-100 in a decisive Game 7, overturning a 3-1 deficit to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the New York Knicks.
Joel Embiid led the charge with a dominant 34-point, 12-rebound, six-assist performance, while Tyrese Maxey delivered a crucial 30-point, all-around display, including key late-game scoring to seal the win.
Philadelphia became only the 14th team in NBA playoff history to recover from 3-1 down in a series, and the first in franchise history to achieve the feat. The victory also ended a long playoff drought against Boston, marking their first series win over the Celtics since 1982.
The turning point came late in the fourth quarter, when Maxey exploded for eight straight points to break a tight contest and push the 76ers into a decisive lead in front of a stunned Boston crowd.
Embiid, who returned to the lineup after recovering from an emergency appendectomy, credited team unity for the turnaround, saying the group “stuck together” to close out the series.
Boston were without star forward Jayson Tatum due to a knee injury, and despite Jaylen Brown’s 33-point effort, they were unable to hold off Philadelphia’s late surge.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla admitted his side created good looks but ultimately failed to convert them when it mattered most, ending their title defence in disappointing fashion.
