The Philadelphia 76ers have forced a Game 7 against the Celtics in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Going into this series, the Sixers were clear underdogs but started the series 1-1 after snatching a gritty win in Boston.
Afterward, the Sixers quickly fell down 3-1 in the series. Their first home loss saw the Sixers fight until late in the fourth quarter, falling 108-100 to Boston. Then, in the fourth game of the series, the Sixers lost by 32 points due to Payton Pritchard’s 32-point explosion.
With that in mind, the Sixers showed that they aren't willing to just roll over in the series quite yet. After a 113-97 win in Boston, the Sixers are back in Philadelphia with something to prove. On their home court, in Game 6, the Sixers gave it their all and came away with a 106-93 victory.
Now the squad will head back into battle on Saturday in an ultimate Game 7 matchup. With that in mind, let's look back at how the Sixers have performed historically in the playoffs after going down in a playoff series.
Back in the 2023-2024 NBA season, the Philadelphia 76ers were coming off of their first NBA Play-In victory over the Miami Heat. This led the team to a matchup with the Jalen Brunson-led New York Knicks. The Sixers, who were just getting Joel Embiid back from injury, scrapped their way into the playoffs in large part thanks to first-time All-Star and Most Improved Player winner Tyrese Maxey.
Despite strong showings from both Maxey and Embiid, the Sixers found themselves in a 3-1 deficit heading back to New York. Some questionable officiating, failure to execute on inbound passes and dominant play from the Knicks’ Brunson led to this point. The Sixers' lone win at that point had come on their home court.
Still, thanks to an incredibly heroic 46-point performance from Tyrese Maxey led to a 112-106 overtime win, the Sixers were able to extend their season series. Sadly, the series ended with a loss to the Knicks in the next game, sending the Sixers home. Still, the team showed admirable grit in the season.
We all know how this series ended: With the Sixers blowing a 3-2 lead in a Doc Rivers masterclass. What many don’t remember is that the Sixers actually quickly fell down 2-1 in this series. After a series-opening win led by James Harden, the team quickly fell to Boston in the next two matches. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Malcolm Brogdon all put on excellent performances to take the series lead from the Sixers.
Then, in Games 4 and 5, the Sixers' trio of James Harden, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey powered the Sixers to a true series lead against the Celtics. In Game 4, Embiid and Harden were especially impressive, scoring 76 points combined for the Sixers in a 116-115 overtime win.
In Game 5, Maxey and Embiid combined for another 63 points in a 115-103 win. Unfortunately, the Sixers still couldn’t overcome their Celtics curse and lost the next two games straight. With that in mind, the Sixers' two best players in their current series showed a remarkable amount of fight in the elimination games once again.
This series still gives me nightmares as a Sixers fan. This series will forever live in infamy for Sixers fans as the series that ended Ben Simmons’s prime. With Ben’s sudden regression, the Sixers fell into a 3-2 hole with the Hawks looking to close out the series at home in Game 6.
In Game 6, the Sixers came out firing. The trio of Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid each scored over 20 points to force a Game 7 heading back to Philadelphia. The Sixers, as many of you know, did not win this series, losing Game 7 in Philadelphia despite Joel Embiid’s 31 points.
There are two clear themes present in these Sixers series. The first, and most obvious, is that the Sixers, in the end, lost each series. Despite extending each of them, the Sixers ultimately were never able to come out on top.
However, the shooter’s paradox tells us that for every miss, there will eventually be a make. While a 3-1 comeback is unlikely, this Sixers team has shown that they have what it takes to make it possible. With so much heartbreak and fluke losses against the Sixers, perhaps the Sixers are due for a victory.
This leads to the other clear theme. The theme is that the Sixers' stars step up big time in elimination games. Against the Knicks, Maxey and Embiid dominated in their do-or-die game. In the 2022-2023 series against Boston, Harden, Maxey and Joel were dominant in two straight wins. Even against the Hawks, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid stepped up big time to extend that series.
While it is unlikely that the Sixers will succeed in their 3-1 comeback attempt, it is also far from impossible. Eventually, the Celtics, who live and die by three-pointers, will have a poor shooting game. Also possible is that guys like VJ Edgecombe, who dominated in Game 2 of the series, could rediscover their footing for the rest of the series. This Game 7 will not be an easy fight, but with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey leading the squad, anything is possible for the Sixers.
