76ers Overcome 3-1 Deficit to Beat Celtics, Face Knicks in Second Round

TL;DR: The Philadelphia 76ers erased a 3‑1 playoff deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 109‑100 in Game 7, advancing to face the New York Knicks. Joel Embiid posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists while the team became the first in franchise history to overcome such a hole.

Context: The seventh‑seeded 76ers trailed the second‑seeded Celtics three games to one after losing Games 1, 3 and 4. They won the next three contests on the road, closing the series with a decisive victory in Boston.

Key Facts: Embiid led all scorers with 34 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out six assists. Coach Nick Nurse said the squad managed the hostile arena well and found the experience beneficial. The win marked Philadelphia’s first ever comeback from a 3‑1 series deficit and the 14th time any NBA team has achieved that feat.

What It Means: Philadelphia will now meet the third‑seeded Knicks in a best‑of‑seven second‑round series opening Monday in New York. The victory gives the 76ers confidence after Embiid’s return from an emergency appendectomy that kept him sidelined since early April. New York will look to exploit any lingering fatigue from Philadelphia’s grueling comeback.

Watch how the 76ers adjust their perimeter defense against New York’s three‑point shooting in Game 1.