Sixers eliminate Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 at TD Garden

Philadelphia just pulled off the kind of win that changes how a whole postseason feels. The Sixers went into TD Garden on Saturday night, beat Boston 109-100 in Game 7, and finished off a comeback from down 3-1 in the series. That is the headline. But the bigger thing is what it says — this was not a lucky escape, it was three straight elimination-game wins against a Celtics team that suddenly looked fragile at exactly the wrong time. (apnews.com) ### Why does this result feel so big? Because Boston had the safer path and the better regular-season profile, and Philadelphia still walked out with the series. The Sixers became the 14th team in NBA history to come back from 3-1 down in a playoff series, and it was their fi(apnews.com)uns and ugly exits, that matters. (apnews.com) ### Who actually won the game? Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey owned it. Embiid put up 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. That is basically the whole blueprint for this version of Philadelphia — Embiid controlling the mi(apnews.com)he game back under control. (apnews.com) ### What happened to Boston? The biggest immediate swing was Jayson Tatum not playing because of left knee stiffness. That changed the geometry of everything. Boston still had stretches where it threatened to make this a classic Garden comeback, but without Tatum’s shot creat(apnews.com)untalented — they looked short one stabilizer. (masslive.com) ### Did the Sixers control it throughout? Not comfortably, but more than the final margin suggests. Philadelphia built enough cushion to survive Boston’s push, then answered with big buckets when the game tightened. That is what stood out. In p(masslive.com)ill late when the Celtics were trying to turn the game into a half-court grind. (sportingnews.com) ### Why is the 3-1 comeback the real story? Because it flips the emotional script of the series. After Game 4, Boston looked like the team with all the leverage. Then Philadelphia won Game 5 in Boston, handled Game 6 at h(sportingnews.com)ster, held up better under pressure, and kept belief longer. (nytimes.com) ### What changes now? The bracket moves immediately. Philadelphia advances to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Game 1 set for Monday, May 4, in New York. So the Sixers do not get much time to celebrate. The rewar(nytimes.com)ling. (nba.com) ### And what’s the bottom line? The Sixers did the hard part in the hardest building, in the hardest format, against the opponent that has haunted them for decades. Boston’s collapse will get plenty of attention — fair enough. But this result belongs first to Philadelphia. The Sixers did not just advance. They finally landed a postseason win that feels like it can mean more.