Celtics blow 3-1 series lead as 76ers win Game 7 behind dominant Embiid

The Boston Celtics saw their 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers slip away this week by losing Game 7 and being eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday night.

The 76ers won Game 7, 109-100, behind Joel Embiid’s 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Embiid made nine of his 11 free throw attempts, but was accused of failure by Celtics star Jaylen Brown after the game.

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Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates after his team defeated the Celtics in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA playoffs in Boston on May 2, 2026. (Jim Davis/AP)

“Embiid put a lot of pressure on us, like on all our bigs and our guards,” he said via Mass Live. “We didn’t really have an answer for him. We tried a bunch of different things and it’s just he’s a big body, and also he was breaking down, he got extra calls and stuff like that, and they rewarded him for that. That’s the league we’re in. So, that’s all I have to say.”

Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and VJ Edgecombe added 23 in the win.

One of the biggest difference makers in Game 7 was Philadelphia’s 3-point shooting. The 76ers were shooting 39% from long range while Boston shot 27%. The Celtics were 13 of 49.

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Jaylen Brown of the Celtics plays during the final minutes of Game 7 of a first-round NBA playoff series in Boston on May 2, 2026. (Jim Davis/AP)

Brown said after the game that he didn’t feel like Philadelphia was a “traditional” No. 7 seed. He paid tribute to the effectiveness of Maxey, Embiid and Paul George.

“Like we just didn’t really have an answer for Embiid in the games he played. He was just a problem for us,” Brown added. “Obviously we didn’t know if he was going to be able to play because of his appendicitis, or whatever you call it, but I think it made the difference. But credit to (76ers head coach) Nick Nurse. Give Philadelphia credit. They’ve gotten better.”

Boston also lost Jayson Tatum to injury midway through Game 6 and he appeared in Game 7.

Baylor Scheierman of the Celtics defends Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of Game 7 of a first-round NBA playoff series in Boston on May 2, 2026. (Jim Davis/AP)

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Philadelphia will face the New York Knicks in the next round.