Despite blowing 3-1 lead after standout regular season, the Celtics remain unfazed: 'We stick to the process'

BOSTON — As a crowd of Philadelphia faithful gathered in a corner of TD Garden, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey emerged from the tunnel to celebrate with their fans following a stunning comeback from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the favored Celtics . “We want Boston,” Philly fans chanted. The phrase became a battle cry for both fanbases.

Philadelphians chanted it when their team captured the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed, earning the chance to play the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. Bostonians responded when their C’s jumped out to an early lead in the series. But the City of Brotherly Love got the last laugh, chanting it in an arena that had emptied out after a 109-100 Celtics loss in Game 7 .

Meanwhile, in Boston’s locker room, the Celtics could have hung their heads low. On 32 previous occasions the franchise had taken a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven set, and 32 times the Celtics had won. Not this time.

But they took the defeat in solemn stride. “Great season,” said Boston’s Jaylen Brown. “Obviously, it didn’t finish the way we would’ve liked.