The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NBA playoff history on Saturday, defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals — overcoming a 3-1 series deficit that had seemed almost insurmountable. It marked the first time in franchise history that the Sixers had recovered from such a position, and only the 14th time any team has done so in the league's history.

Joel Embiid was the defining force in Philadelphia's comeback, finishing with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Embiid, who had not played since April 6 after undergoing emergency appendix surgery during a team trip through Texas, returned for the final three games and transformed the series. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points and 11 rebounds, and rookie VJ Edgecombe contributed a striking 23 points off the bench. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the shift plainly: