Boston fans didn’t hold back during Game 7 on May 2, 2026, greeting Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid with a loud, explicit chant while he stood at the free throw line. As the Philadelphia big man prepared for his shots, the crowd broke into a chant of “F*ck Embiid,” making their feelings about the longtime rival perfectly clear.
This kind of atmosphere has become a tradition for the Boston faithful whenever Embiid comes to town. The two sides have a deep history, having faced off in the playoffs in 2018, 2020, and 2023, with the Celtics winning every one of those previous series. That history added extra tension to this 2026 meeting, especially after the Celtics built a 3-1 series lead before Philadelphia fought back to force a deciding Game 7.
The game was a physical battle from the opening tip. Philadelphia grabbed the early momentum, leading 32-19 after the first quarter. According to ClutchPoints, Boston responded with a strong run to briefly take the lead, but the 76ers held their composure and went into halftime with a 55-50 advantage, holding the edge in ball movement and paint scoring.
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Embiid and the 76ers proved they can win in the most hostile environments
By the final buzzer, the narrative had shifted entirely. Despite the hostile atmosphere, Joel Embiid and the 76ers secured a 109-100 victory to complete a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, marking just the 14th time in NBA history that a team has accomplished such a feat.
Embiid finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. V.J. Edgecombe chipped in with 23 points, and Paul George added 13. The win was a significant moment for the Philadelphia franchise. Including their time as the Syracuse Nationals, they improved to 2-10 all-time in road Game 7s, with their only other road Game 7 win coming back in 1982 at the Boston Garden.
It was a tough night for the Celtics, who struggled from three-point range for the third game in a row, finishing 13 of 49 from beyond the arc. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 26 points and Neemias Queta added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Off the court, sports figures have also been making headlines for personal reasons, such as a coach’s wife facing public scrutiny and judgment.
As the No. 7 seed, Philadelphia will now visit the No. 3 seed New York Knicks on Monday, May 4, for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, reports ABC News. It is a quick turnaround after such an intense series, but the 76ers have clearly shown they can handle hostile crowds and high-pressure situations.
The chants from the Boston fans at the free throw line were intended to rattle Embiid, but he had the last laugh as his team walked off the court with the win. For a team that appeared to be on the brink of elimination just a few games earlier, the ability to win on the road in a Game 7 speaks to the resilience of this Philadelphia group.
They will need that same energy as they head into a new challenge in New York. The Knicks will be waiting, and the pressure won’t let up anytime soon for the 76ers. In other news making the rounds, a woman’s surprising Tinder date experience has been turning heads online.
Published: May 3, 2026 12:50 pm