Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 on Saturday night. The win completed a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, marking just the 14th time in NBA playoff history that a team has achieved such a feat.
Embiid's Performance and Message to Fans
Embiid finished the game with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Tyrese Maxey contributed 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while VJ Edgecombe added 23 points and Paul George scored 13. The seventh-seeded 76ers will now face the third-seeded New York Knicks in Game 1 of the second round on Monday night in New York.
During the celebration, Embiid delivered a pointed message to 76ers fans: do not sell your playoff tickets to Knicks fans. He recalled the previous playoff meeting two years ago, when Madison Square Garden East seemed to take over Philadelphia. "Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East," Embiid said. "We're gonna need the support. Don't sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys."
Embiid, who is earning $58 million this season, even offered to personally cover the cost for fans who might need to sell tickets for financial reasons. "If you need money, I've got you," he stated.
Historic Comeback and Celtic's Struggles
The 76ers' victory over the East's second seed was a measure of revenge after Boston eliminated Philadelphia in Game 7 of the second round in the 2023 playoffs. Maxey reflected on that loss, saying, "We had a chance to beat them three years ago, didn't do it. We came in and got it done." Embiid, who returned from appendectomy surgery in Game 4, became the first player in NBA history to score 100 points in a playoff series despite missing the first three games.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White added 26 points, including five three-pointers. The Celtics struggled from beyond the arc for the third straight game, shooting just 13 of 49. Brown acknowledged Embiid's impact, saying, "He put a lot of pressure on us. We didn't really have the answers for him."
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla defended his team's three-point shooting strategy despite the loss. "I love the looks that we got. I love the process that we had. But I hate the result," he said. The Celtics made their earliest playoff exit since the 2020-21 season, falling to 32-1 when leading a series 3-1.
Boston played without Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out about 90 minutes before tipoff due to knee stiffness. Brown said he learned of Tatum's absence only 45 minutes before the game. Mazzulla explained that Tatum arrived at the facility with knee discomfort and the medical team decided he would not play. With Tatum out, Mazzulla made radical changes to the starting lineup, opting for Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, and Ron Harper Jr. alongside Brown and White. The group had never started together this season, and the Celtics quickly fell into a 9-0 hole, trailing 32-19 after the first quarter.
