Game Recap: 76ers 109, Celtics 100 The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 to take the series 4-3.
The Philadelphia 76ers were a wildcard all season—up and down, never fully healthy for long stretches. Yet their upside was clear, and they delivered in a big way, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win Game 7 on the road.
Philadelphia nearly let an 18-point second-half lead slip away but pulled through late for the 109-100 victory, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the sixth time in nine years. It was a shocking outcome for many, but not for this resilient group.
“We’ve had this weird swag about us all year,” Tyrese Maxey said. “This confidence that we know who we can be.”
Joel Embiid paced the Sixers with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Maxey chipped in 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. The Celtics played without Jayson Tatum due to left knee stiffness and couldn’t overcome the deficit after trimming it to one point with under four minutes remaining.
Here are some key notes and observations as road teams went 10-7 in Game 7s over the last six years:
- Maxey seals it with explosive speed With just over two minutes left and both teams struggling to score, Maxey took over. After a missed open three by Payton Pritchard, he pushed the ball up the floor. Following a ball screen, he exploded past the defense for a reverse layup that gave Philly a three-point edge.
Tyrese Maxey sparks the 76ers’ Game 6 surge with 30 points, forcing a Game 7 vs the Celtics
On the next trip down, he ran a similar action, beat his man again and sliced through help defenders for another crucial bucket. Maxey finished with an efficient 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting. His burst proved too much in the biggest moments, setting up tough challenges ahead.
- Celtics exhaust options against Embiid Embiid came out firing, scoring 10 points and dishing five assists in the first quarter alone. He hit jumpers, made smart passes against doubles and dominated one-on-one matchups. Boston tried multiple defenders and even some zone coverage, but nothing fully slowed him.
Though he cooled off late, his fourth-quarter contributions—including a big jumper and free throws—were vital. Embiid’s presence was a major factor in Philly’s 3-1 record with him on the floor.
- Boston’s lineup gamble falls short Missing Tatum, the Celtics made multiple starting changes with players who had barely seen the floor earlier. The new group had zero chemistry and got off to a terrible start. They went scoreless on their first six possessions and were quickly in a hole. The adjustments didn’t pay off, as the newcomers combined to shoot poorly and the Celtics fell behind early.
- Cold shooting ends Boston’s surprising run The Celtics had been one of the league’s top teams despite injuries and roster turnover, ranking high on both ends for years. But their heavy reliance on jump shots caught up to them. In the four losses, they shot just 27.4% from three-point range, including several open misses in Game 7’s closing moments. It’s a make-or-miss game, and those misses proved costly as their strong season came to an end.