The Boston Celtics have been eliminated from the 2026 NBA playoffs after a 109-100 defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 on Saturday. The 76ers were determined to end their 0-3 postseason losing streak against the Celtics, and they accomplished that mission despite playing at the TD Garden in Boston.
One of the biggest differences for the Celtics was the absence of Jayson Tatum. The All-Star forward was ruled out ahead of the game due to left knee stiffness. Accoridng to reports, Tatum experienced discomfort in his knee after the team's 106-93 loss in Game 6.
While the Celtics had a 3-1 lead to start the series, they had a collapse and lost three straight games. As a result, the team's postseason streak was broken.
The 76ers Snapped the Celtics' 3-1 Playoff Record
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Ahead of Game 7, the Celtics had a dominant postseason record of 32-0 in a series where they had a 3-1 lead. The team had the most wins with that record, which has not lost in the playoffs. However, that ended against the 76ers tonight.
Philly, meanwhile, had also snapped a historic streak. The 76ers had the most losses in the NBA when trailing 3-1 in a postseason series with a record of 0-18.
The Celtics tried to experiment with their starting lineup, putting Jaylen Brown and Derrick White with Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. It's a group that had not played a single minute together, accoridng to pregame reports.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla wanted Neemias Queta to come off the bench to avoid getting quick fouls early in the game. Joel Embiid, a player who has excelled at generating contact and fouls, has made it difficult for Queta to avoid fouls. However, the team's strategy did not last, as the big man ended with five fouls.
Embiid had a major impact on the 76ers after missing the first three postseason games as he was recovering from an emergency appendectomy. The momentum shifted when he returned to action. Mazzulla credited the NBA star for making a difference for Philly.
"What changed in the series was Joel Embiid came back," Mazzulla said. "I think they're a completely different team. That's what changed in the series. As far as the regular season and the playoffs, nothing changed."
This is the first time that the 76ers have won a playoff series against the Celtics since the 1981-82 season. This is also the first time that Boston was eliminated in the first round since the 2020-21 season.
