76ers Celtics – Tyrese Maxey scored 30 and Paul George added 23 as the 76ers beat the Celtics 106-93, setting up Game 7 in Boston.
A single win can change the temperature of a playoff series, and the Philadelphia 76ers did exactly that with a decisive 106-93 victory over the Boston Celtics to force a Game 7.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 30 points. while a resurgent Paul George scored 23 as the 76ers played their most complete game of the first round.. With the series now tied and the deciding matchup scheduled for Saturday in Boston. the path forward for both teams is suddenly much clearer than it was just a night earlier.
In this context, the swing from earlier blowouts matters as much as the scoreline itself: Game 6 reflected a team that finally matched the moment, including a key third-quarter burst that flipped the script after a tight earlier stretch.
Philadelphia’s response came in part from Joel Embiid’s early return from an appendectomy, giving the team a boost at a pivotal time. Embiid contributed 19 points, and the 76ers built momentum after two lopsided losses that had left them staring at a potential end to the series.
The turning point arrived in the third quarter.. Kelly Oubre Jr.. blocked Jaylen Brown. Maxey collected the loose ball. and the fast break quickly produced a highlight pass from George that set up a thunderous finish by VJ Edgecombe.. That sequence helped Philadelphia open a wide gap. taking control with a 69-54 lead that grew steadily into the final stretch.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere around the game underscored why playoff moments resonate beyond the court. With Sixers fans fully engaged, the momentum from a few decisive plays carried the kind of emotional lift that can influence how long a team stays confident after a rough stretch.
Boston’s scoring was spread but uneven.. Brown finished with 18 points despite early foul trouble. while Jayson Tatum added 17 before leaving the third quarter with an apparent calf injury.. Philadelphia. meanwhile. sustained pressure by closing the third with extended scoring that set up an 82-63 cushion heading into the final period.
At the center of the story is what comes next. If Philadelphia is going to win Game 7, it will likely depend on how much Embiid can do while managing health, and how consistently Maxey and George can drive offense when Boston adjusts its defense for the final game of the series.
In the final analysis, Game 7 in Boston is where preparation and execution converge, and the team that handles pressure best tends to be the one that turns desperation into precision.