76ers Force Game 7 With 106-93 Victory Over Celtics In Philadelphia

Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George reacts during Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved With the Philadelphia 76ers leading by 23 points early in the fourth quarter Thursday night, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla called timeout and took out star forward Jaylen Brown and center Neemias Queta.

For the final 10 minutes and 24 seconds, the Celtics played all reserves, as Mazzulla all but admitted the game was over and preferred to rest his starters. Now, after the 76ers defeated the Celtics 106-93 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, the teams return to Boston Saturday night for Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first round series. It is an unlikely scenario considering the 76ers lost by 32 points in Game 4 last Sunday night, the second-worst home playoff loss in franchise history.

They were outmatched and humiliated even as center Joel Embiid returned following a nearly three-week absence after undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis. But the 76ers have since looked like a different team, winning two in a row to force the ninth Game 7 in their longtime rivalry with the Celtics. Boston has won six of the eight previous Game 7 matchups, including in the 2023 conference semifinals when Jayson Tatum scored a career playoff-high 51 points in a 112-88 victory.

The last time Philadelphia defeated Boston in a Game 7 was in the 1982 conference finals, which is the only time the 76ers have won a Game 7 on the road. Since then, the 76ers have lost each of their six postseason series against the Celtics. Overall, Philadelphia is 6-12 in Game 7’s and has lost four in a row, with its most recent Game 7 victories coming in the 2001 conference semifinals and finals, both at home.