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76ers Rally Past Celtics in Historic Game 7 Upset

5/3/2026

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Summary

Sixers Upset Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 109–100 in Game 7 on May 2, 2026, erasing a 3-1 series deficit.
Joel Embiid posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
The win was the Sixers' first series victory over Boston since 1982 and the first No. 7 seed to beat a No. 2 seed since the 2003 first-round format change.

Summary

Celtics Scoreless Starters

Joe Mazzulla started Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, Ron Harper Jr. and Jaylen Brown after Jayson Tatum was ruled out with knee stiffness.
Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. combined for zero points, producing the first Game 7 with three starters scoreless in NBA playoffs.
Boston shot 13-of-49 (26.5 %) from three, its straight game under 30 %, leading Mazzulla to call for less reliance on shooting and roster upgrades.

History

Historical Context

In 1994 the Denver Nuggets, a 42-40 team, became the first eighth-seed to eliminate a top seed when they beat the Seattle SuperSonics in five games. The upset echoed in 2026 when the seventh-seed Philadelphia 76ers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to topple the Boston Celtics, with Joel Embiid scoring 34 points.

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Sixers Upset Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 109–100 in Game 7 on May 2, 2026, erasing a 3-1 series deficit.
Joel Embiid posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
The win was the Sixers' first series victory over Boston since 1982 and the first No. 7 seed to beat a No. 2 seed since the 2003 first-round format change.

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