76ers up next for Knicks in playoffs after surviving Jayson Tatum-less Celtics in Game 7 thriller

BOSTON — Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics 109-100 on Saturday night to complete the NBA’s 14th comeback from a 3-1 deficit.

Embiid finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

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VJ Edgecombe scored 23 points and Paul George had 13.

Joel Embiid drives to the basket during the 76ers’ 109-100 Game 7 series-clinching win over the Celitcs on May 2, 2026 in Boston Imagn Images

Philadelphia, the No. 7 seed, will visit No. 3 Knicks on Monday night at the Garden in Game 1 of the second round.

The Sixers franchise, including its time as Syracuse Nationals, improved to 2-10 in road Game 7s. Its only other win came in 1982 at the Boston Garden. It’s a small measure of revenge after Boston blew out Philadelphia in Game 7 in the second round of the 2023 playoffs.

“We had a chance to beat them three years ago, didn’t do it. We came in and got it done,” Maxey said.

Embiid, who debuted in Game 4 after recovering from appendectomy surgery, is the first player in NBA history to score 100 points in a playoff series despite missing the first three games.

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He and Maxey also became the third duo in league history to each have 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a Game 7.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points and nine rebounds.

Derrick White had 26 points, including five 3-pointers. Neemias Queta finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Jalen Brunson celebrates after the Knicks’ Game 6 series-clinching win over the Hawks on April 30, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg

The Celtics struggled from the 3-point line for the third straight game, finishing 13 of 49.

Brown said Embiid changed tenor of the series.

“He put a lot of pressure on us,” Brown said. “We didn’t really have the answers for him.”

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla shrugged off any notion that his team was too dependent on 3s in the series.

Jaylen Brown attempts a shot during the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to 76ers on May 2, 2026. Anadolu via Getty Images

“I love the looks that we got….

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Publish date : 2026-05-03 02:06:00

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