NBA playoffs 2026: Philadelphia 76ers defeat Boston Celtics in game seven, Joel Embiid breaks hoodoo, Celtics choke after leading 3-1

The Boston Celtics have sensationally been eliminated from the NBA playoffs as the Philadelphia 76ers claimed a victory in 109-100 game seven of their Eastern Conference series.

The second seed Celtics had home court advantage for the decider, but were unable to turn the tide created by the 76ers in their previous outings.

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Boston led the series 3-1 before Philadelphia stormed back to win three games in a row to book a second round date with the New York Knicks.

It is the first time in franchise history that the 76ers have come from 3-1 down to win a playoff series.

It was the ninth time that the two rivals have faced off in a game seven, but it was also the first time in 44 years that Philadelphia have beaten Boston in a head-to-head playoff series.

In the Eastern Conference, it is also the first time since the first round expanded to best-of-seven in 2003 that a seventh seed has toppled a second seed.

The Celtics threatened to pull off a mighty comeback, edging within one basket of Philadelphia in the dying minutes after trailing by 13 at the start of the final quarter.

But the 76ers steadied to late to progress despite an injury concern to star big man Joel Embiid – who finally snapped his own game seven hoodoo.

The Celtics going two of 11 from three point range in the final term also gave the visitors a significant boost.

While the hosts’ ultimately were unable to recover from the pre-game blow of Jayson Tatum being ruled out with a leg injury.

Embiid was immense with a game high 34 points and 12 rebounds as well as six assists.

“It was about playing hard,” he said post-game. “I told these guys before the game, especially when we hard the news (of Tatum’s injury), same energy, same intensity.”

Embiid, who has previously lost three playoff series against the Celtics, added: “Woah, that’s a tough task (to come from 3-1 down) but I’ve always believed in these guys.

“Especially this team. Obviously all year long we weren’t at our best, but I still feel like we’re not even close.

“I’m getting back to myself. Everybody in this locker room is locked in. All focused on the same goal.

“But it’s hard. The guys that have done it before, I can understand how hard it is.”

Embiid underwent surgery last month to remove his appendix and his teammate Tyrese Maxey was full of praise post-game.

“It means everything. For him to do that for us, all we can do is appreciate it,” he said.

“He’s been doing it all year, all his career, really. The city of Philadelphia should really, really not take him for granted.”

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Maxey was also superb for Philadelphia with 29 points, ten rebounds and a team high seven assists.

“We had a talk after game five,” Maxey said. “We can’t let the same stuff happen over and over and over again.

“At some point we got to put a stop to it and we did. We won game six at home and game seven is a toss up.

“We hadn’t won one yet so it feels good to win one.”

Youngster VJ Edgecombe, meanwhile, set a franchise record for the most points by a 76ers rookie in a game seven with his tally of 23 – surpassing Maurice Cheek’s previous mark from 1979.

For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown fought admirably in the absence of fellow star Tatum with 33 points and nine points.

Derek White chipped in with 26 points but three of the Celtics’ starters failed to hit the scoreboard as Boston were forced to test their bench depth.