Sixers Rally From 3-1 Deficit to Beat Celtics 109-100 in Game 7

The Philadelphia 76ers completed one of the NBA playoffs’ rarest turnarounds Saturday night, beating the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 to win their first-round series 4-3 after trailing 3-1. The result sends Philadelphia into the Eastern Conference semifinals, where it will face the New York Knicks.

According to the NBA’s live updates, the Sixers are the 14th team in league history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series. That made Saturday’s win more than a standard Game 7 road victory: Philadelphia finished a comeback that only a small group of teams has managed.

Joel Embiid led the way for Philadelphia with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, according to game coverage cited in the research. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points as the 76ers closed out the series in Boston.

The matchup had opened as a first-round pairing between the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed, Boston, and No. 7 seed, Philadelphia. By winning the series, the Sixers not only erased a 3-1 hole but also pulled off an upset by seeding and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2023.

Philadelphia now moves on to face New York in the second round after surviving a series that turned sharply in its favor late. The Celtics, meanwhile, were eliminated on their home floor after taking a 3-1 edge into the final stretch of the series.

Boston played Game 7 without Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out because of left-knee stiffness, according to Associated Press reporting cited in the research. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the decision was made before the game after Tatum arrived with knee discomfort.