BOSTON — What seemed like a smooth path to the NBA playoffs’ second round for Boston has turned into a potential disaster, as the Philadelphia 76ers have forced a decisive seventh game after the Celtics dominated with a commanding 32-point victory on the road in Game 4.
Philadelphia’s consecutive dominant performances in Games 5 and 6 have pushed Boston — previously viewed as a top contender to represent the Eastern Conference — to the edge of a stunning downfall.
Should the second-seeded Celtics fall in Saturday night’s winner-take-all contest, it would mark their quickest playoff departure since the 2020-21 campaign.
Boston may face this challenge while managing concerns about star player Jayson Tatum, who temporarily exited Game 6 during the third quarter for treatment of what appeared to be a left calf problem. This comes just 22 games after Tatum’s return from the torn right Achilles tendon that sidelined him during last season’s playoffs.
The Celtics organization has minimized concerns about the situation, with Tatum describing his leg as feeling only “a little stiff” following the game. He explained that after a brief evaluation and some time on an exercise bike, he remained on the bench because the contest was already decided and the starting lineup had been removed.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla dismissed injury concerns entirely and reinforced that position during Friday’s conference call.
“He’ll play,” Mazzulla stated.
However, Philadelphia’s track record in elimination games doesn’t favor the 76ers.
The Flyers’ recent NHL playoff appearance highlighted that they remain the sole Philadelphia franchise to capture a Game 7 since defeating Boston in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinal.
Following that victory, the 76ers suffered Game 7 defeats in 2012, 2019, 2021, and 2023; the Flyers fell short in similar situations in 2014 and 2020; while the Phillies lost Game 7 of the NLCS in 2023.
The Phillies also suffered elimination in a decisive Game 5 during the 2011 playoffs.
Boston has historically dominated this playoff rivalry, capturing the previous six series matchups. Philadelphia’s last playoff series victory over the Celtics came during the 1982 Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I’ve been playing these guys for so long,” 76ers star Joel Embiid commented. “I’m tired of losing to them. We have a chance to accomplish something special.”
Game 7 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC and Peacock, with the series deadlocked at 3-3. Boston enters as 7.5-point favorites.
The Celtics hold a 27-10 all-time record in Game 7 situations, while the 76ers stand at 6-12 in such contests and haven’t won one since 2001. This marks the ninth Game 7 between these organizations, with Boston holding a 6-2 advantage in previous decisive games. Philadelphia joins 37 teams in league history to force a Game 7 after falling behind 3-1, though only 13 have completed the comeback. For Boston to prevent Philadelphia from becoming the 14th, their offensive efficiency must return. The 76ers have limited the NBA’s second-ranked regular season offense to under 100 points in consecutive games. Boston shot a combined 30.5% from three-point range across those contests, making 11 attempts in each game despite leading the league with an average of 16 three-pointers per game during the regular season.
