Misryoum tracks the 76ers’ Game 7 win over the Celtics and previews the next NBA playoff slate.
The NBA Playoff Bracket 2026 just shifted again after the Philadelphia 76ers turned a high-pressure Game 7 against the Boston Celtics into a second-round ticket.
In Saturday’s only matchup. Philadelphia closed things out with a 109-100 win to complete a remarkable series turnaround. surviving after being down 3-1.. The 76ers set the tone early. building a quick start with a 9-0 run and a 32-19 edge after one quarter. before Boston steadily clawed its way back.
The game tightened in the closing minutes as the Celtics battled their way toward a one-point game late, with Philadelphia holding a slim 99-98 lead. From there, Tyrese Maxey delivered key scoring moments, and his late free throws helped seal the win.
Maxey’s all-around impact was difficult to ignore, producing 30 points alongside 11 rebounds and seven assists.. Joel Embiid also carried a major load with 34 points, supported by 12 rebounds and six assists.. Together, they delivered the kind of late-game production that can flip a series when momentum is on a knife edge.
Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons is next on the playoff schedule, with the series tied 3-3. Shortly after, the Toronto Raptors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET, also with the matchup level at 3-3, setting up two critical swing moments.
Insight: When playoff series reach these tied, Game 7-style scenarios, it often comes down to who can execute in the final possessions, not just who performs best over entire stretches.
Philadelphia now moves to the next round to take on the New York Knicks. shifting the bracket conversation from survival to matchup planning.. With the second round underway soon. the focus will quickly shift to whether the 76ers’ Game 7 surge carries over. especially against a Knicks team ready to make its own statement.
Insight: A series comeback like this doesn’t just change standings, it reshapes confidence and rotations, which can matter just as much once the playoffs move into matchups designed around countering specific threats.