Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives for a shot against Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
BOSTON — If we're being honest, there aren't many who thought the Sixers would be here, preparing for Game 7 against the second-seeded Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference first round playoff series.
Because, before the series started, Joel Embiid was practically just taken off the operating table in Houston to have his appendix removed. Because the team had to win a game in the Play-In Tournament against the Orlando Magic to secure the seventh seed. Because, when needing victories to try and avoid a Play-In game, they lost three of their last five to end the season. Because Tyrese Maxey was battling a pinky on his shooting hand that is battling the soreness of tendon damage. Because coach Nick Nurse still wasn't sure of his rotation at the center spot without Embiid, juggling between Adem Bona and Andre Drummond. Because a backup to Paul George still hadn't been established among Justin Edwards, Dominick Barlow, Jabari Walker and Trendon Watford.
There were a myriad of reasons for fans and followers to question the longevity of the Sixers' playoff run. But in the end, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks besides the coaches and players, and right now the confidence among the team is sky-high, enhanced by the return of Embiid and the fact that they may be playing their best basketball of the season.
Whether it continues after Saturday when the teams meet at TD Garden is to be determined. The Sixers are riding a two-game winning streak in which they have done everything needed to not only shut down the Celtics to the tune of 95 points a game on average, but have navigated their own offensive ways, with Embiid being a huge cog.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the keys to this Game 7.
Incredibly, the Sixers' star center has averaged close to 36 minutes in the three games he has participated. On average, he's gone for 26 points, eight rebounds and 7.3 assists while only turning the ball over seven times. He has been dominant in the lane, found plenty of good looks from mid-range, and at times been a terrific facilitator. His shot has been just a little off from inside the arc.
Embiid has been blessed with wonderful looks, but has a ton of in-and-out misses, shots that fall just short or maybe just a little long. He is not far off, and he knows it.
"You look at all the shots I'm getting," he said. "Everything's short, in-and-out. But at some point I'm about to have a night. Hopefully it's next game. Getting back and finding your touch, it's been the same thing over the years. I'm working on it. You can't get frustrated. You look at some of the misses I've had, those are some of the shots that I make in my sleep, especially from mid-range. But I've just got to keep on shooting."
He does, but he also has to keep taking what the game is giving him. Boston tried to double at times since his return, and Embiid has been terrific at finding the open man. When they single cover him, no one can match up. If he stay's within himself, as he's done exceptionally well the past two games, good results seem inevitable.
Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. have been outstanding in their coverage of Boston's Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, making Boston's two leading scorers have to work each and every possession to get good looks. That cannot change on Saturday and can't be interrupted by fouls or anything else. Tatum appeared bothered by a calf in Thursday's loss at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, so that warrants watching. But so does how much the refs allow the players to be physical against each other. Both Tatum and Brown thrive on lower shoulders to create space, bumping chests to get at the rim. Neither George or Oubre has backed down at all and have certainly matched the physicality of Boston's leaders. It has to continue.
TD Garden is a hard place to play. There is plenty of history there, and none of it good for the Sixers. They will be ready to explode and make things a little tight for the Sixers, if they let them. The way to keep them out of the game is to, obviously, not let the Celtics go on big runs and continuously drain three-pointers, which really gets the fan base riled up. There are going to be moments for the Celtics, it happens every game. The Sixers can't let those moments get too big. They have to realize when a run is about to come, and make sure they slow down the game by getting Embiid to the foul line, create smart possessions, not allow Boston to ride the momentum for too long.
In the same sense, when things are going right for the Sixers, they'll need to ride it. Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are way too quick for the Boston guards. The Celtics have tried to smother Maxey with length at times in the form of Jordan Walsh, but have had limited success. If Maxey gets it going, ride him. Same thing with Embiid and George.
The Sixers allowed Boston to only snare one offensive rebound in the first half of Thursday's game. There was a noticeable effort by Nurse's club to limit the Celtics from crashing the boards. Maxey said after Game 5, when he snared 10 rebounds, that he was tired of Boston constantly getting second chances and capitalizing on them. So he did something about it. The team seems to have followed his lead. This is a huge part of the game for the Sixers.
It's hard to believe, especially since none of the players on the Sixers and many of the coaches were born, but the last time the team eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs, back in 1982. The players have been asked about it endlessly, but of course, it means little to them because they weren't around. Embiid, though, has been eliminated by Boston in the playoffs three times, so he knows the deal.
"I've been playing these guys for so long I'm tired of losing to them. So we have a chance to accomplish something special. They're a great team. You look at everything they have, that's a super team. We just have to go with the mindset we've had for the last two games, the last two wins. One play at a time. Tough environment, but we've been there. We've won two games there, so just keep doing what we've been doing."
We'll see.
