Celtics discuss impact of Joel Embiid's return in opening round
Multiple members of the Celtics have talked about the impact that the 76ers' Joel Embiid had on their seven-game series.
Celtics discuss impact of Joel Embiid's return in opening round originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The opening round of the NBA playoffs between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics went the distance to a full seven games, with the seventh-seeded Sixers prevailing when all was said and done.
The series was certainly set to provide no upsets in the opening three matches, given that Boston took the opener, 123-91, and game three by an eight-point margin. Through the first three matches of the series, the Celtics were outscoring the Sixers, 328 to 302, something that had to change for Philadelphia if they wanted to stay in it, and something did. What moved the needle in the Sixers' favor?
According to Celtics’ head coach Joe Mazzulla, the series changed when Joel Embiid returned in game four. "What changed in the series was Joel Embiid came back. " Joe Mazzulla on what made the difference in the Celtics' series against the 76ers.
pic. twitter. com/pMdKLcdxRA — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 3, 2026 "What changed in this series is Joel Embiid came back, and they're a completely different team,” Mazzulla stated to the press.