Against all odds, the Philadelphia 76ers overturned the Boston Celtics in a dramatic Game 7, winning 109-100 in Massachusetts on Saturday to advance to the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The 76ers will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Joel Embiid, who had his appendix removed three weeks ago, was immense on Saturday with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.

Boston, second in the Eastern Conference regular season, lost this series to the seventh seed after leading 3-1. This is the 14th time in playoff history that such a lead has been overcome, the first time since 2020.

The two franchises faced off in a Game 7 for the ninth time, an NBA record. The 76ers hadn't eliminated the Celtics since 1982, and were coming off a loss in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2023.

Saturday's game at TD Garden lived up to this historic rivalry by remaining close until the end, even though the Celtics almost never led.

Without Jayson Tatum, sidelined with a knee injury, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla innovated with three surprises in his starting five (Ron Harper Jr., Luka Garza and Baylor Scheierman), who were quickly outmatched.

- Embiid "transforms" the 76ers -

Joel Embiid, with his physical presence and mid-range accuracy, quickly dominated the game, drawing numerous fouls.

"What has changed in this series is the return of Joel Embiid. The team is completely transformed with him," Mazzulla praised, regarding the center who appeared in Game 4.

According to Jaylen Brown, "Embiid put us under a lot of pressure, we couldn't find a solution against him. We tried several things, he's a tough opponent. He also exaggerated some contact, and he was rewarded by the referees."

The American-Cameroonian, MVP 2023, has rediscovered some of his past greatness, after his career was hampered by injuries in recent years.

The center, who returned to the court last Sunday after his appendectomy, nevertheless finished the game limping, after being hit twice in the knee by falls from an opponent and then a teammate.

Point guard Tyrese Maxey was outstanding for the 76ers with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. He made the decisive break in the final two minutes with two drives to the basket, as both teams struggled to score in a nail-biting finish.

- Two more matches on Sunday -

The Celtics managed to get back within one point with a few minutes left thanks to Jaylen Brown (33 points, 9 rebounds) and Derrick White (26 points), but they ran out of accuracy from long range in the final quarter (2 for 13).

Boston, champions in 2024, surprised with an excellent 2025-2026 season, despite several important departures last summer and the serious injury of Tatum (Achilles tendon), who returned as the playoffs approached.

An effort rendered futile by the 76ers, who had not advanced past the first round in the playoffs since 2023, and who are now aiming for their first conference final since 2001, with the first game in New York on Monday.

The first round concludes Sunday with two more Game 7s, between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic and then between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors.