Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers were considered underdogs entering their first-round playoffs series against the Boston Celtics. The Sixers were consistently inconsistent during the regular season and dealt with injuries for an extended stretch. When they fell behind 3-1 to the Boston Celtics, the series felt all but done.
But Philadelphia rattled off three straight wins, capped by a stunning 109-100 Game 7 victory on the road at TD Garden on Saturday. It was just the 14th 3-1 comeback in NBA playoff history, and Embiid made all the difference.
Embiid controlled Game 7 from the opening tip and refused to let Boston find any answers. He finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and a block in 39 minutes.
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Over the four games he played in the series, he averaged 28 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
After the game, the former league MVP, who was subject to boos at TD Garden on Saturday, made a request to Celtics fans on X.
“ROUND 1 ✅ Boston, please be classy my friends! I still love and respect you!!”
The Celtics had been a major stumbling block for Embiid and the 76ers in recent postseason matchups. Saturday marked the first time he got the last laugh against Boston after entering these playoffs with a 0-3 record against Philly’s Eastern Conference rivals.
Overall, the two franchises have played 123 playoff games against each other (23 series), making it the most total playoff series between two teams in NBA history.
The 76ers now advance to the semifinals for the sixth time in nine years, where they will face the New York Knicks. Game 1 tips off Monday at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NBC and Peacock.
