Patryk Stachowiak
Maxey Delivers in Crunch Time as 76ers Stun Celtics in Game 7 Comeback
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 on Saturday, advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals after erasing a 3-1 series deficit. The road victory marked the sixth trip to the conference semifinals in nine years for Philadelphia, a remarkable achievement for a roster that has battled consistency issues and health concerns throughout the season.
Joel Embiid led the charge with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. The Celtics played without Jayson Tatum due to left knee stiffness and mounted a furious late-game rally that nearly salvaged the series.
Maxey’s Burst Seals the Victory
With less than two minutes remaining, the offensive flow had stalled across both squads. Maxey became the catalyst in critical possessions down the stretch, exploiting mismatches against Neemias Queta on consecutive drives to the basket.
On the first possession, Kelly Oubre Jr. set a ball-screen for Maxey against Derrick White. Queta positioned himself too high, allowing Maxey to accelerate past him for a reverse layup that extended the 76ers lead to three with exactly two minutes left. The very next possession saw Maxey execute similar action, flipping the ball to Oubre for a handoff before beating help defenders for another crucial basket.
Maxey shot an efficient 11-for-18 from the field, finishing with game-clinching plays when Boston‘s defense tightened most. Over the seven-game series, the ball-screen action between Oubre and Maxey generated only 0.83 points per possession, yet in Game 7’s final moments, Maxey extracted maximum value from the same looks.
Embiid Frustrates Boston’s Defense
Embiid dominated early, scoring 10 points and recording five assists in the opening quarter. The Celtics cycled through multiple defensive schemes without finding answers. They deployed Hugo Gonzalez, a reserve who barely played through the first six games. They assigned Jaylen Brown to the task. They eventually resorted to zone coverage.
The Philadelphia big man posted a 28.0 points-per-game average across the series at a 53.7% true shooting percentage, not his most efficient output by playoff standards. Still, the Celtics ranked fourth defensively but remained powerless to contain him when it mattered most. Embiid delivered all seven of his fourth-quarter points in high-leverage situations, including a face-up jumper over Queta and a pick-and-pop three when Brown refused to close out. Two crucial free throws with 4:45 remaining extended the 76ers advantage to three.
Boston’s Lineup Gamble Backfires Immediately
The absence of Tatum forced Boston into lineup adjustments. Management replaced three starters at once, inserting Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. in place of Tatum, Queta and Sam Hauser. This five-man combination had never played together during the regular season.
Boston opened the game with six consecutive scoreless possessions and trailed 11-4 before their first substitution. Harper logged only 4:02, never returning to the floor. Garza appeared in 8:38 of action while the Celtics were outscored by 15 in those minutes. Scheierman, Harper and Garza combined to shoot 0-for-7, establishing early offensive dysfunction that compounded throughout the game.
Jump-Shooting Drought Ends Boston’s Surprise Run
The Celtics emerged as one of basketball’s biggest surprises this season, ranking in the top five on both offense and defense for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year. With a 3-1 series advantage, Boston appeared poised to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference.
The league’s most perimeter-dependent team unraveled in decisive moments. During the regular season, only 41% of Boston‘s shots came from the paint. That figure dropped to 36% in playoff play, underscoring the team’s reliance on three-point shooting. Across their four series losses, the Celtics connected on just 49-of-179 three-pointers (27.4%), missing open looks down the stretch of Game 7.
Boston failed to reach the conference semifinals for only the second time in the last ten years. With Tatum‘s expected return to health and normalized expectations, the Celtics face an offseason conversation about reducing perimeter dependency and building a more balanced offensive profile.
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