Final Score: Sixers 109, Celtics 100
Series Score after result: Sixers win series, 4-3
Embiid’s stat line: 34 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 12-of-26 FGs, 1-of-4 3PTs, 1 block, +11 rating
Is it a bit much to say Sixers fans were confident heading into this Game 7? Maybe it is given Philadelphia’s reputation as postseason choke artists that was built up in the Embiid era. However, the Sixers had all the momentum in their opening round series against Boston this past spring heading into the decisive
game. They had already won twice at TD Garden, including Game 2 in convincing fashion without Embiid. Their victory in Game 6 was a dominant performance that left no doubt they could win the series, a stunning turn of events from a Game 4 blowout loss that saw them go down 3-1 in the series.
Then, Jayson Tatum was ruled out for the Celtics just before tipoff. Things were building towards a seminal moment for both Embiid and the entire organization. Everyone knew this was more than just a first-round playoff series given the opponent and the deficit the Sixers were looking to overcome. Once the game started, it looked like Game 6 had never ended. The Sixers led 32-19 after one quarter and unsurprisingly, Embiid dominated the first 12 minutes. The big man had 10 of his 34 points in the first period and it was clear that he was making a concerted effort to score in the paint where Boston didn’t have an answer for him.
After playing all 12 minutes of the first quarter, Embiid did take a brief rest in the second quarter, but the Sixers still led by five points at halftime, an outcome they certainly would have signed up for at the beginning of the game. The second quarter also featured a signature defensive play for Embiid who had his lone block just prior to halftime on Jaylen Brown.
He only played about half of the third quarter, but Embiid was very efficient coming out of the locker room going 3-of-4 from the field in the quarter and getting five of his 12 rebounds in the seven minutes of action he got in the third.
Of course, his scoring efforts were consistent, but it was the rebounding and passing in this one that really made it feel special for Embiid. He was involving his teammates, denying the Celtics of lots of second chances and the rest of the team was rallying behind him. The game was also remembered for the horrendous shooting of the Celtics as Boston went a pitiful 13-of-49 from the three-point line.
In typical Sixers fashion, the team found a way to quickly wash away the rally from 3-1 down against Boston by getting swept out of the second round against the Knicks in the following series. However, with a highly-anticipated 2026-27 starting soon, now feels like a good time to remember the best moment of the 2025-26 season, Embiid’s finest thus far as a Sixer.
