Joel Embiid Eyes A Special Playoff Moment As Sixers Challenge Celtics In Game 7

Philadelphia forced a decisive Game 7 against Boston, overturning a 3-1 series deficit with a 106-93 win. Tyrese Maxey led with 30 points, while Paul George added 23. Joel Embiid again faced Boston in a high-stakes situation and admitted frustration, saying he is tired of repeated postseason defeats to the Celtics.

The victory kept alive a comeback that has never previously succeeded for the franchise. No team has trailed 3-1 more often than Philadelphia without winning a series, losing all 18 prior attempts. Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday, when the 76ers will try to finally change that record.

Recent NBA playoffs history between these teams has been one-sided. Boston have won the last six postseason series against Philadelphia. The 76ers have not eliminated the Celtics since 1982. Embiid has carried much of that burden, suffering three series losses to Boston across different stages of Philadelphia’s current era.

Embiid’s first playoff exit to the Celtics came in Game 5 of the 2018 Eastern Conference semi-finals. Boston then swept Philadelphia in the first round in 2020. In 2023, the teams met again in the second round, where the Celtics recovered, won Game 6 in Philadelphia, and claimed the series in seven games.

Embiid is returning earlier than expected after an appendectomy and still influenced Game 6. Embiid scored 19 points while shooting 6-for-18 from the field. The 76ers star went 1-for-5 from three-point range and is now 2-for-16 from deep across the three games played in this series so far.

You look at all the shots I'm getting, everything is short, in and out, Embiid said. At some point I'm about to have an extremely efficient night. Hopefully it's the next game.

The statistical backdrop to this series is severe. The only team in NBA history to win a playoff series after losing two games by at least 30 points is the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 against the St. Louis Hawks. That example underlines how unusual Philadelphia’s challenge is against Boston.

I've been playing these guys for so long, Embiid said when referring to the Celtics. I'm tired of losing to them. So we have a chance to accomplish something special. They're a great team. When you look at everything you have, that's a super team, so we just got to go with the mindset we've had for the last two games.

"I think we played really well. I think that it doesn't really matter that much, though," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "I mean, we've seen games like this. This is just one game. That's one story. And you're going to go back, and it's just not going to flip a switch and happen again.We're going to have to really, really dig in and focus and prepare and get ready for adjustments, and we're going to have to give a tremendous effort. It's nice to win a couple in a row, and it's nice to win, play the way we did tonight, but it really does not matter. Each game's its own game."

Philadelphia now carry both pressure and opportunity into Saturday’s NBA playoffs decider with Boston. Historical struggles against the Celtics, Embiid’s ongoing recovery, and the rare 3-1 comeback attempt frame Game 7. The 76ers’ response to that context will decide whether this chapter continues past the weekend.