BOSTON — When the Philadelphia 76ers began their playoff series against Boston, uncertainty surrounded Joel Embiid’s availability following his recent appendectomy surgery.
That uncertainty proved manageable as the former MVP delivered exceptional performances when it mattered most.
Making his series debut in the fourth game after recovering from surgery, Embiid showcased some of his finest postseason basketball across the final four contests, propelling Philadelphia to a decisive 109-100 Game 7 triumph over Boston, a squad many considered championship material.
The seventh-seeded Philadelphia team earned a challenging Eastern Conference semifinal series against third-seeded New York, with the opening game scheduled for Monday.
Embiid’s dominant performance helped Philadelphia secure only their second road Game 7 victory in franchise history and their first against Boston since 1982. His 34-point, 12-rebound, six-assist stat line made him the first NBA player ever to reach 100 points in a playoff series after sitting out the opening three games.
“Sometimes I’ve been in those positions where I’ve come up short,” Embiid said. “I’ve always said it, you can’t win alone. You need a team. … The way we’re playing right now, we’re so in sync, offensively, defensively.”
Alongside teammate Tyrese Maxey, who contributed 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, the pair joined exclusive company as only the third duo in NBA history to both record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a Game 7.
Maxey reflected on how the series highlighted his improved understanding of when to take charge versus when to support Embiid’s leadership.
“It’s a growth, because I had to learn when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive,” Maxey explained. “It got a little bit difficult in the middle of this season. I was basically being first option every single night. Then he comes back and I’ve got to find a way to do both. And he does a really good job of just keeping me engaged and keeping me confident and keep me like, ‘Hey I need you to do what you do.’”
Philadelphia faces an even greater test against New York, a team known for their aggressive, physical style compared to Boston’s approach.
Coach Nick Nurse expressed confidence in Embiid’s readiness for the upcoming challenge, noting how the star center pushed through visible discomfort and received additional treatment during breaks to remain effective late in the game.
Embiid’s fatigue was understandable given Philadelphia’s limited rotation, with only six players logging significant minutes despite nine seeing action. Embiid’s 39-minute performance matched his series maximum.
“He was doing everything he could to stay in the game,” Nurse observed. “Obviously, we ran a lot of things through him and we did just enough.”
The coach emphasized how surviving the intense atmosphere at TD Garden will benefit his squad moving forward.
“It’s really good for us to go through that and respond to it,” Nurse noted. “It’s going to be like that in the playoffs. You’re going to be in tight games and it’s going to be super loud. … And you just have to play through it.”
Nurse credited the victory to forcing Boston into slower halfcourt possessions during the final three minutes, after the Celtics had dominated with fast-break opportunities for roughly 12 consecutive minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters.
This tactical adjustment represents a valuable lesson for the upcoming New York series.
“In the last two (games) and portions of this one, we just guarded really well,” Nurse said.
Despite celebrating the Boston victory, Embiid maintained focus on bigger objectives ahead.
“One series. Got more to go,” he stated.
