In a playoff series filled with dramatic turns, the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a historic comeback against the Boston Celtics—but the real fireworks came after the final buzzer.
When the Celtics secured their 12th straight playoff appearance, everything seemed on track for another deep run. But the basketball gods had other plans. Joel Embiid's appendicitis surgery on April 9 initially dashed Philadelphia's hopes, and Boston looked dominant, crushing the Sixers 123–91 in Game 1. By Game 4, the Celtics held a commanding 3–1 series lead.
Then came the turning point: Embiid's return and a calf injury to Jayson Tatum in Game 6 shifted momentum entirely. The 76ers made history by rallying from a 3–1 deficit, closing out the series with a 109–100 Game 7 victory. It marked the first time since 1982 that Philadelphia beat Boston in a Game 7 on their home court—and the 24th playoff meeting between these storied rivals, the most in NBA history.
But the most talked-about moment came off the court. Celtics star Jaylen Brown didn't hold back, accusing referees of having an "agenda" and calling Embiid the "king of flopping."
"Embiid put a lot of pressure on us," Brown said. "We didn't really have an answer for him. We tried a bunch of different things. He's a big body. He also was flopping around. He got some extra calls and they rewarded him for that, but that's the league we're in."
Brown's frustration had a statistical basis. He was whistled for 10 offensive fouls in the series—double that of any other player. Meanwhile, Embiid converted 9-of-11 free throws in Game 7 alone, finishing with 34 points and 12 rebounds. Brown, despite scoring 33 points, couldn't escape the officials' whistles.
"Joel Embiid is a great player... [But he] flops. He knows it," Brown later added on Twitch, claiming referees "targeted" him because of his previous criticism of officiating.
For fans and players alike, this series added another fiery chapter to one of the NBA's greatest rivalries—and left everyone wondering what happens when these two teams meet again.