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76ers Complete 3-1 Comeback, Beat Celtics, Advance Semis

5/3/2026

Summary

76ers Complete Comeback

The Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7, completing a 3-1 comeback and becoming the 14th NBA team to overturn such a deficit.
Joel Embiid had 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and seven assists.
The Sixers will face the New York Knicks in the semifinals, with Game 1 on May 4 at Madison Square Garden and the Knicks holding home-court advantage as No. 3 seed.

Summary

Edgecombe Scores

VJ Edgecombe, a Philadelphia addition, scored 23 points and posted a plus-19 rating in Game 7.
Joel Embiid returned on May 2, 2026 after missing three playoff games due to emergency appendicitis surgery.
Jayson Tatum missed Game 7 with a left knee injury, leaving the Celtics without their star.
Knicks coach Brown, after starting Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, said the resilience mirrors champions, noting a four-year first-round win streak not seen since 1992-2000.

Summary

LeBron Leads Lakers

NBA scheduled Game 7 for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock and Knicks-Celtics/76ers series to start May 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
DraftKings posted the 76ers at +200 and the Knicks at -260 on the moneyline for Game 1, with a 213.5-point over/under.
Knicks coach Mike Brown said an extra practice at Tarrytown sharpened the team’s offense and defense.
LeBron James, 41, guides the Lakers into the semifinals after a six-game win over the Houston Rockets.

History

Historical Context

In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first NBA franchise to overturn a 3-1 series deficit, defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game 7. LeBron James recorded a 27-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double, Kyrie Irving contributed 26 points, and the Warriors shot 48% from three. Similarly, the 2026 Philadelphia 76ers erased a 3-1 deficit, with Joel Embiid’s 34 points and Tyrese Maxey’s 30 points echoing the Cavaliers’ comeback heroics. That precedent cemented the belief that no playoff series is insurmountable, prompting teams like the Knicks and Sixers to prioritize depth and resilience.

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76ers Complete Comeback

The Philadelphia 76ers beat Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7, completing a 3-1 comeback and becoming the 14th NBA team to overturn such a deficit.
Joel Embiid had 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and seven assists.
The Sixers will face the New York Knicks in the semifinals, with Game 1 on May 4 at Madison Square Garden and the Knicks holding home-court advantage as No. 3 seed.

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