Historic 3-1 comeback sees Philadelphia 76ers defeat Boston Celtics in Game 7 thriller
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey become the first teammates in NBA history to record 30-10-5 statistics in a single Game 7 as the 76ers snap a franchise record of 0-18 in such situations.
The Philadelphia 76ers have defeated the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, securing a historic 3-1 comeback. This victory marks the 14th time in NBA history that a team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series, ending a prior franchise record where Philadelphia had gone 0-18 in such situations.
The win also snapped a six-year losing streak between the two franchises, with Boston's record of being undefeated when holding a 3-1 lead dropping from 32-0 to 32-1. The matchup represents the 23rd time the two franchises have met in a playoff series, the most frequent rivalry in NBA history, and advances Philadelphia to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Joel Embiid recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. This performance marks the first time two teammates have achieved 30-10-5 statistics in a Game 7. The victory was secured after Boston missed nine consecutive shots in the final minutes, allowing Maxey to deliver eight straight points inside the final two minutes to put the game away for Philadelphia.
Boston entered the match holding a 3-1 series lead, but the starting lineup featured a new combination of players that had never played together before. Jayson Tatum was ruled out of Game 7 due to left knee stiffness, a condition that developed after he exited Game 6 after 29 minutes. Coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed that the medical staff and himself decided Tatum would not play following an assessment of his discomfort.
The game fell into a steady rhythm back-and-forth after Philadelphia raced out to an early lead. The 76ers went on a 14-3 run in the third quarter to build an 18-point lead, though Boston immediately struck back at the start of the fourth quarter. Philadelphia maintained the lead outside of a brief stretch in the second quarter, eventually forcing the game away with consistent scoring in the final minutes.
This result breaks a streak of six consecutive series losses for Philadelphia against Boston, the last three of which Embiid has taken part in. The Celtics have historically been effective against Joel Embiid, having knocked him out of the postseason three times in recent years, but the 76ers finally found a way to break through against their bitter rivals in this decisive contest.
