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Celtics Host 76ers in Game 7; Tatum, Embiid May Return

5/2/2026

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Summary

Celtics Game7

Game 7 between Celtics and 76ers airs Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock at TD Garden.
Jayson Tatum, who exited Game 6 with a calf issue, may return.
Joel Embiid, after an appendectomy, posted 19-10-8 and averaged 26-8-7 in Game 6.
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 and Paul George 23 in Game 6, tying the series.
Celtics are favorites while the Sixers have not won a Game 7 since 2001 or a series vs. Boston since 1982.

Summary

Sixers Force Series

The Philadelphia 76ers forced a series after two 30-point losses, the first team since the 1959 Minneapolis Lakers to do so.
Tyrese Maxey posted 30 points with zero turnovers, the first Sixers performance of that kind since Julius Erving in 1982.
Coach Nick Nurse said momentum is a myth, stressing that each playoff game stands alone.
Fans shouted “We Want Boston,” creating a hostile arena for the Celtics.

History

Historical Context

When the Celtics faced the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1959 NBA Finals, Boston swept the visiting team in four games, launching an eight-year championship run that defined the league. That first Celtics-Lakers clash also marked the Lakers’ final season in Minnesota before relocating. The current Celtics-76ers Game 7 echoes that historic comeback narrative.

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Celtics Game7

Game 7 between Celtics and 76ers airs Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock at TD Garden.
Jayson Tatum, who exited Game 6 with a calf issue, may return.
Joel Embiid, after an appendectomy, posted 19-10-8 and averaged 26-8-7 in Game 6.
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 and Paul George 23 in Game 6, tying the series.
Celtics are favorites while the Sixers have not won a Game 7 since 2001 or a series vs. Boston since 1982.

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