Embiid leads 76ers past Jayson Tatum-less Celtics 109-100 in Game 7
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109-100 victory over the Boston Celtics, completing a historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit and advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
- Embiid scored 34 points with 12 rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists; both became the third duo in NBA history to each record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a Game 7.
- The Celtics played without star Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out shortly before the game due to left knee stiffness, and despite Jaylen Brown's 33 points, Boston struggled from the three-point line, shooting 13 of 49.
- Philadelphia, the No. 7 seed, will face the No. 3 New York Knicks in the second round, marking the Sixers' first road Game 7 win since 1982 and avenging their 2023 playoff loss to Boston.
- Boston coach Joe Mazzulla expressed frustration with the series outcome but defended the team's shot selection, while the Celtics suffered their earliest playoff exit since the 2020-21 season and fell to 32-1 when leading a series 3-1.
