The Philadelphia 76ers made history on May 2, 2026, by becoming the first No. 7 seed to defeat a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs since the format changed to best-of-seven. They triumphed over the Boston Celtics with a score of 109-100.
In a remarkable comeback, the Sixers rallied from a 3-1 series deficit—a feat only accomplished by 14 teams in NBA history. Joel Embiid led the charge with an impressive performance, scoring 34 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists. Tyrese Maxey wasn’t far behind, contributing 30 points, along with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. The duo’s efforts were pivotal in overcoming their historic rivals.
The atmosphere at TD Garden was electric, but the absence of Jayson Tatum due to left knee stiffness loomed large for Boston. Jaylen Brown stepped up with 33 points, but it wasn’t enough to stave off defeat. “Embiid put a lot of pressure on us, on all of our bigs and our guards,” Brown remarked after the game.
This victory not only marked the end of a painful 44-year playoff series losing streak against the Celtics but also secured the Sixers their first playoff series win since 2023. Coach Nick Nurse reflected on their journey: “It’s really good for us to go through that and respond to it.” The Sixers are now set to face the New York Knicks in the second round.
Key statistics from Game 7:
- Joel Embiid: 34 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists
- Tyrese Maxey: 30 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists
- VJ Edgecombe: 23 points
- Celtics’ Jaylen Brown: 33 points
- Total score: Sixers 109 – Celtics 100
- Turnovers by Embiid in this series: 8
The Sixers’ determination is palpable; they’ve rewritten playoff history with this victory. As they prepare for their next matchup against the Knicks, fans are buzzing with excitement—hoping this momentum carries them further into the postseason.