The Philadelphia 76ers made history by defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference playoff series on May 2, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston. This victory marks the first time a No. 7 seed has defeated a No. 2 seed since the playoff format changed to best-of-seven.
The Sixers completed an impressive comeback after trailing the series 3-1. Joel Embiid led the team with a standout performance, scoring 34 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while dishing out six assists. Tyrese Maxey also contributed significantly, adding 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
VJ Edgecombe added depth to the scoring with 23 points. The Celtics played without star player Jayson Tatum, who was sidelined due to left knee stiffness. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points but could not secure the win for his team.
This victory ended a 44-year playoff series losing streak for the Sixers against the Celtics. It also marked their first playoff series win since 2023. The Sixers became one of only 14 teams in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-1.
Key statistics from Game 7:
- Sixers total points: 109
- Celtics total points: 100
- Embiid’s turnovers in the series: 8
The Sixers will advance to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Coach Nick Nurse emphasized the importance of this victory, stating, “It’s really good for us to go through that and respond to it.” Meanwhile, Brown acknowledged Embiid’s impact on their game plan, saying, “Embiid put a lot of pressure on us, on all of our bigs and our guards.”
