On May 2, 2026, Ron Harper Jr. found himself in an unprecedented situation as part of a Celtics starting lineup that scored zero points in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. This historic moment unfolded at TD Garden, where the stakes were high and the atmosphere electric.
The Celtics had been riding high throughout the season, clinching 56 wins. But without Jayson Tatum—ruled out due to left knee tightness—the team struggled to find its rhythm. They were down by just one point when they entered the final five minutes of the game, trailing 97-96.
Key statistics from Game 7:
- The Celtics missed nine consecutive three-point attempts in the last five minutes.
- They shot only 2-for-13 during that critical stretch.
- Harper Jr., along with Baylor Scheierman and Luka Garza, finished with zero points—making history as the first team since 1970-71 to have three starters score none in a playoff game.
Fans were left bewildered. Ron Harper tweeted, “I love basketball can someone explain to me the last 5 mins of @celtics and @76ers game? Boston down by 1 & 3 and keep shooting 3s…. Please help me.” His frustration echoed throughout social media.
Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the Celtics, reflected on the game saying, “I love the looks that we got. I love the process that we had. Hate the result.” This encapsulated a season filled with promise but ending in disappointment.
Jaylen Brown added his thoughts: “Great season. Obviously, it didn’t finish the way we would’ve liked.” The sentiment was palpable—a mix of pride for their achievements and sorrow for how it ended.
As fans and analysts dissect this historic moment, questions linger about what’s next for the Celtics. Will they bounce back stronger next season? How will they adjust their strategy moving forward? For now, this loss stings but also serves as a lesson learned on basketball’s biggest stage.