The Boston Celtics’ postseason dreams imploded on Saturday night as they squandered a 3-1 series lead and fell 109-100 in a crushing Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
What looked like another deep playoff run for Boston turned into a stunning collapse capped by Joel Embiid’s overpowering performance at TD Garden.
Embiid, the reigning MVP, delivered the kind of statement performance fans have come to expect from him in elimination games.
He finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, punishing the Celtics’ defense on every possession. Despite missing time earlier in the series with health concerns, Embiid looked fully recovered when it mattered most.
After the final buzzer, Celtics star Jaylen Brown was candid about his team’s inability to counter the Sixers’ center.
“Embiid put a lot of pressure on us, like on all our bigs and our guards. We didn’t really have an answer for him,” Brown said, acknowledging that Embiid’s size and strength dictated the entire flow of the game.
Still, Brown couldn’t resist suggesting that the officials had aided the Sixers’ star with soft calls, adding that “he was flopping around, he got some extra calls, and they rewarded him for that.”
That frustration echoed through a quiet Celtics locker room where players looked stunned by how quickly a promising series had slipped away. Boston had controlled much of the matchup early, taking a commanding 3-1 lead before dropping the final three games.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, found its rhythm when it mattered most. Tyrese Maxey, the ever-energetic guard, lit up Boston with 30 points, continuing his breakout postseason. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added a surprising 23 points, giving the Sixers an offensive boost that complemented Embiid’s inside dominance. Together, they fueled a remarkable 76ers comeback that sent shockwaves across the NBA.
The turning point in Game 7 came from behind the arc. Philadelphia shot a sharp 39 percent from three-point range while Boston went a dismal 13-for-49, or just 27 percent.
Every missed shot seemed to deflate the home crowd a bit more, and every made three from the Sixers punctuated their growing confidence. For a Celtics team built around perimeter scoring, the cold shooting was a death sentence.
Jayson Tatum’s absence also loomed large. The All-NBA forward injured himself during Game 6 and was unable to suit up for the decisive Game 7.
Without their top scorer, Boston struggled to create quality looks and lacked a stabilizing offensive presence. By the fourth quarter, the Celtics were playing desperate, watching as Embiid and Maxey executed with precision on the other end.
Brown still offered respect to his opponent afterward. “They’re not a traditional seven seed,” he noted. “We just didn’t really have an answer for Embiid. Obviously, we didn’t know if he was going to be able to play because of his appendicitis, but that made the difference. Credit to Nick Nurse, credit to Philadelphia. They got better.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics now face an offseason filled with difficult questions. How could a team with championship aspirations collapse so completely after grabbing control of the series? And more importantly, does this core have what it takes to finish the job when the pressure climbs highest?
For the 76ers, though, this win represents a defining moment for a franchise that has endured years of playoff heartache.
Since taking over as head coach, Nick Nurse has brought a more disciplined and resilient identity to Philadelphia, and his rotations during this series proved critical. He trusted Edgecombe in big moments, leaned on Maxey’s speed to open up spacing for Embiid, and kept his team composed even when it trailed early in the series.
Embiid’s response to Brown’s flopping accusation was measured but firm, reminding reporters that physical play and foul calls have always been part of postseason basketball. If anything, the skepticism only seemed to fuel him.
The win also propels the Sixers into a highly anticipated matchup with the New York Knicks in the next round. That series promises a stylistic clash between Embiid’s interior dominance and the Knicks’ gritty, defense-first approach. For Philadelphia, confidence is soaring.
As for Boston, the collapse will linger. Losing a 3-1 lead, particularly against a lower seed, marks a damaging chapter for a franchise accustomed to postseason glory.
Injuries, shooting woes, and defensive breakdowns all played a role, but the simple truth remains—Philadelphia executed, and Boston faltered.
In the aftermath, the Celtics left the floor to a smattering of stunned silence from the home fans.
Embiid, surrounded by teammates and roaring in triumph, soaked in the moment as confetti fell. For him, and for the 76ers, it was vindication after years of postseason disappointment. For Boston, it was the sound of a season that ended far too soon.