NBA playoffs, historic comeback for Philadelphia: eliminates Boston after 44 years

Game 7 is still game 7. If Boston and Philadelphia are on the court, it is even more special. On the night, Game 7 was staged between these two iconic franchises. Well, after 44 years of waiting, in 76ers managed to eliminate the Celtics, their historical rivals (deprived, due to injury, of Jayson Tatum).

Thanks to what is arguably the best playoff performance of Joel Embiid’s career, the 76ers captured a heart-stopping 109-100 victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Philadelphia also became the 14th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win a best-of-seven series.

“It feels good to win. Obviously we wanted it so much. Beating these guys feels really good,” the words of Joel Embiid, who scored 34 points, reported by ESPN. “Yeah, it was great,” commented 76ers coach Nick Nurse. “Maxey? Obviously he’s ​​at the right time. He still hadn’t been at his best all night … but then he scored a couple that were key.”

Before tonight’s win, the 76ers had an NBA record of 0-18 when they found themselves down 3-1 in a series. Boston, on the other hand, was riding a 32-0 record when leading 3-1 in a series. Philadelphia beat Boston in the playoffs for the first time since 1982, breaking a streak of six consecutive eliminations, the last three of which with Joel Embiid on the court. The two teams have faced each other in a total of 23 series, more than anyone else in NBA playoff history.