Philadelphia 76ers eliminate Boston Celtics in historic 3-1 comeback
Joel Embiid delivered a masterclass as the Philadelphia 76ers completed a historic 3-1 series comeback to defeat the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final.
The victory at TD Garden makes Philadelphia just the 14th team in NBA history to overturn a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
It also ends a 44-year hoodoo against their fiercest rivals, snapping a streak of six consecutive post-season series losses dating back to 1982.
Historic nights for Embiid and Maxey
The reigning league MVP showcased arguably the finest playoff performance of his career with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
He was perfectly complemented by Tyrese Maxey, who contributed 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to the decisive victory.
The dynamic duo became the first teammates in NBA history to each record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a Game 7.
Prior to Saturday’s triumph, the Pennsylvania franchise held the unenviable record of going 0-18 when trailing 3-1 in a post-season matchup.
Tatum injury disrupts Boston plans
The dramatic showdown was heavily influenced hours before tip-off when Celtics star Jayson Tatum was ruled out with left knee stiffness.
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla was forced to deploy an untested starting lineup containing Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr and Luka Garza.
“He just came in today with knee discomfort,” Mazzulla said prior to the game.
“We decided, the medical staff and myself, that he would not play.”
New York Knicks await in semi-finals
The makeshift Celtics lineup initially struggled as the visitors raced into an early lead, though the hosts fought back relentlessly throughout a tense second half.
A dominant 14-3 run in the third quarter built an 18-point cushion for the former champions, ultimately proving too steep a mountain for Boston to climb.
The defeat hands the Massachusetts franchise their first ever series loss after leading 3-1, dropping their historical record in that scenario to 32-1.
Philadelphia will now travel to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, starting on Monday night.