76ers complete 3-1 comeback, defeat Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 to face Knicks in second round [VIDEO]

Joel Embiid scored 34 points, Tyrese Maxey added 30, and rookie VJ Edgecombe had 23 as Philadelphia advanced despite Jayson Tatum’s absence.

The Philadelphia 76ers completed a historic 3-1 series comeback on May 2, 2026, defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 at TD Garden. The seventh-seeded 76ers won three straight games after trailing 3-1, becoming the 14th team in NBA history to overcome such a deficit in a best-of-seven series. The victory marked Philadelphia’s first playoff series win over Boston since 1982.

The Celtics played without Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out with left knee stiffness approximately two hours before tip-off. Boston deployed an unconventional starting lineup of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman, and Luka Garza. The 76ers started Paul George, Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey.

Philadelphia advances to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Game 1 scheduled for May 5 at Madison Square Garden.

76ers Jump to Early Lead, Never Trail After Opening Minutes

Philadelphia opened the game with a 9-0 run. Embiid scored the first basket on a jumper from the right elbow. George followed with a driving slam dunk. Edgecombe, the rookie guard, added a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. Boston did not score until Derrick White’s jumper with 8:57 remaining in the first quarter. The 76ers led by as many as 18 points in the period, reaching 30-15 at one stage.

Embiid recorded 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the first quarter. He drew two fouls on Garza early and assisted Kelly Oubre Jr. on a basket after drawing a double team. Edgecombe forced a turnover by disrupting a dribble handoff between Garza and Payton Pritchard, then added a fast-break layup assisted by Maxey. The quarter ended with Philadelphia leading 32-19.

Boston responded in the second quarter while Embiid rested. Neemias Queta and rookie Hugo Gonzalez helped fuel a run, with Queta scoring a layup to tie the game at 37-36 after three-pointers from White and Pritchard. Philadelphia countered: George made a three-pointer while playing through an illness, Embiid blocked a dunk attempt by Brown, and Maxey converted a mid-range jumper with 6.9 seconds remaining to secure a 55-50 halftime lead.

Embiid, Maxey, and Edgecombe Power Philadelphia Offense

Joel Embiid finished with 34 points on 12-of-26 shooting, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block in 39 minutes. He shot 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. In the third quarter, when Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla shifted to a small-ball lineup and assigned Brown to guard him, Embiid responded with multiple post-up scores against the mismatch. He later answered Boston’s fourth-quarter rally with a pick-and-pop three-pointer.

Tyrese Maxey recorded 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, 11 rebounds (a playoff career high), 7 assists, and 1 turnover in 45 minutes. He shot 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Maxey made a three-pointer early in the third quarter, added a baseline jumper, and sealed the victory with two driving layups in the final minutes after Boston had cut the lead to 92-91.

Rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 43 minutes. He became the first rookie in NBA playoff history to record more than 20 points with more than five rebounds and assists in a Game 7. Edgecombe’s three-pointer with Embiid on the bench extended the lead to 84-66 in the third quarter.

Celtics Rally Falls Short in Fourth Quarter Without Tatum

Boston cut the lead from 13 points to 92-91 in the fourth quarter. White stripped Embiid for a layup, Queta converted an and-one play, and Brown made an and-one leaner. However, Brown missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer with under three minutes remaining, and Pritchard missed a corner jumper. Boston’s shots became rushed as fatigue set in.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points on 12-of-27 shooting, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in 40 minutes. Derrick White added 26 points on 9-of-26 shooting, including 5-of-16 from three-point range, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Payton Pritchard recorded 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Neemias Queta posted 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 12 rebounds.

The Celtics’ unconventional starting lineup struggled. Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman, and Luka Garza combined for 0 points. Joe Mazzulla made the adjustment after Tatum’s late scratch, but the lack of offensive production from those three positions proved insurmountable. Boston shot 13-for-49 from three-point range (26.5 percent) as a team.

George Plays Through Illness, Sixers Restrict Knicks Tickets

Paul George added 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three, in 41 minutes. He played through an illness (sore throat and limited sleep the night before) and still contributed key minutes, including a three-pointer during Boston’s second-quarter run. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Quentin Grimes provided 3 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The 76ers held statistical advantages in effective field-goal percentage (.543 to .468) and free-throw rate, outscoring the Celtics 20-for-23 from the line compared to Boston’s 13-for-16. Philadelphia committed only 9 turnovers and recorded 25 assists on 39 made field goals. The 76ers led for nearly the entire game, trailing for only 31 seconds total.

Following the victory, the 76ers restricted single-game ticket sales for their home games in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks to Greater Philadelphia residents, verified by credit card billing address, to limit opposing fans. Game 1 of that series is Monday, May 5, at Madison Square Garden.

Postgame Reactions Highlight Embiid’s Physicality

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown commented after the game that Embiid was “flopping around” and received extra calls, noting the challenge of defending him as a “big body” in the current league environment. Brown had been assigned to guard Embiid during Boston’s small-ball stretch in the third quarter, a matchup that proved unsuccessful.

76ers head coach Nick Nurse emphasized the value of the team’s experience responding to runs in a hostile environment. Philadelphia had lost the first three games of the series before winning four straight, including two elimination games at home and the decisive Game 7 on the road.

The 76ers are the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit. They are the first seventh seed to eliminate a second seed in a seven-game series since the current playoff format was adopted. Philadelphia averaged 106.6 points, 46.9 rebounds, and 23.7 assists per game in the series, compared to Boston’s 103.7 points, 41.1 rebounds, and 21.7 assists.

Conclusion

The 76ers trailed 3-1. They won four straight. They won Game 7 in Boston. Joel Embiid had 34 points. Tyrese Maxey added 30 with 11 rebounds. Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored 23, a Game 7 record for a rookie. Jayson Tatum did not play. The Celtics shot 26 percent from three.

The 76ers led for almost the entire game. Philadelphia now faces the New York Knicks. Game 1 is Monday. The 76ers are the 14th team to come back from 3-1. They are the first seventh seed to beat a second seed in a Game 7.

The comeback is complete.

The next round awaits.

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