The Celtics are up big on the Sixers in the fourth quarter. Follow along.
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The Celtics easily dispatched the 76ers, 112-88, in Game 7 at TD Garden on Sunday. Boston is moving on to its third Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Miami Heat in the past four seasons.
Jayson Tatum was the star from tip-off to the final buzzer, scoring 38 points in the first three quarters and adding another 13 in the fourth quarter to finish with 51 — a record for a Game 7. He added 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
Read Adam Himmelsbach’s instant analysis from Game 7 here.
Joel Embiid, recently crowned league MVP, struggled to score while being guarded primarily by Al Horford. He finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds. James Harden was nowhere to be found, adding just 9 points in 41 minutes.
Robert Williams started in place of Derrick White, and contributed effort and energy inside for Boston. He finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds.
First-year coach Joe Mazzulla will now take on the task of solving Jimmy Butler and the Heat, who made the playoffs by way of the play-in tournament and took down the top-seeded Bucks and the No. 5 Knicks en route to another Conference Finals appearance.
Game 1 in that series tips off Wednesday at TD Garden. Here’s the schedule.
We’ve got live analysis and updates from Game 7. Follow along below.
Play-by-play | Box score
Celtics vs. 76ers live updates
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Twitter’s got jokes — 7:16 p.m.
Jayson shouts out the fans — 7:15 p.m.
Tatum said it was probably the “loudest the Garden’s been in like … a year.”
Jaylen Brown says the Garden stepped up — 7:00 p.m.
Jaylen Brown called out the fans in Boston ahead of Game 7, and had only kind things to say postgame.
“I called the Garden out last game, and way to respond,” he said. “The energy in the building was through the roof, it was amazing.”
‘We’re expecting a battle:’ Brogdon previews ECF — 6:45 p.m.
Malcolm Brogdon said on NBA TV that the Heat are an “extremely well-coached team,” shouting out Eric Spoelstra, and called Jimmy Butler one of the best basketball players in the world.
What will be the key for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals?
“Who’s going to out-tough, who’s going to play harder … It’s two defensive-minded teams. It’s going to be a battle, we’re expecting a battle,” Brogdon said.
Doc Rivers compares Tatum to LeBron — 6:35 p.m.
Rivers was asked if he’d seen a performance like Tatum’s 51-point showing before.
“I’ve seen one,” he said, “it was in this building, unfortunately, and it was LeBron. That was the only time I’ve seen a performance like that live.”
What is Joe Mazzulla going to do tonight? — 6:30 p.m.
Joe Mazzulla was asked what he’ll do tonight.
“I’m gonna go home and have a glass of wine and start watching film on Miami.”
He said he’d have an Italian red.
Paul Pierce weighs in on Tatum’s big day — 6:25 p.m.
Celtics social media team throws some shade — 6:23 p.m.
Doc Rivers on Game 7: ‘I don’t know what else we could have done’ — 6:20 p.m.
On Embiid, Harden: “Thought they played right overall, they just didn’t play well.”
On Game 7: “I thought we had opportunities … I don’t know what else we could have done.”
On returning as head coach of the Sixers: He said he intends to, but “no one’s safe in our business, and I get that.”
Tatum celebrates with mom — 6:18 p.m.
Eastern Conference Finals schedule is set — 6:15 p.m.
For planning purposes, the Eastern Conference Finals schedule:
Game 1: No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 8 Heat, Wednesday, May 17, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Celtics vs. Heat, Friday, May 19, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Heat vs. Celtics, Sunday, May 21, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Heat vs. Celtics, Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Celtics vs. Heat, Thursday, May 25, 8:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 6: Heat vs. Celtics, Saturday, May 27, 8:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 7: Celtics vs. Heat, Monday, May 29, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Adam Himmelsbach’s instant analysis — 6:10 p.m.
By Adam Himmelsbach
One game ago, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was stumbling through one of the worst games of his career, putting his team on the brink of a stunning elimination against the 76ers. But Tatum regrouped and saved the Celtics before it was too late, and with brimming confidence and a clean slate Sunday, he ensured that no late-game heroics would be needed.
The All-Star erupted for an NBA Game 7-record 51 points, leading Boston to a 112-88 romp over the 76ers. The Celtics advance to a conference finals matchup against the 8th-seeded Heat. Game 1 is at TD Garden on Wednesday night.
Tatum was serenaded with MVP chants throughout Sunday. The actual MVP, 76ers center Joel Embiid, looked nothing like one. With Celtics forward Al Horford shadowing his every move, Embiid was held to 15 points on 5 of 18 shooting. Star guard James Harden, whose last-minute 3-pointers in Games 1 and 4 were the reason this series lasted this long, didn’t fare much better, registering 9 points on 3 of 11 shooting.
The Celtics used a devastating 21-3 third-quarter run to seize control of the game, and never relinquished it. Boston made 15 of 33 3-pointers (45.5 percent).
Read more of Himmelsbach’s observations.
Celtics win — 6:05 p.m.
And it’s on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Tatum subbed out to huge ovation — 6:00 p.m.
The fans are going wild with the Celtics up, 110-82, with 2:04 to play.
Tatum has 51 👀 — 5:50 p.m.
The Celtics are up, 102-76, with 7:12 to play in the fourth quarter.
Tatum now has the record for the most points in a Game 7.
Sixers look cooked — 5:40 p.m.
Tatum back out there for the fourth — 5:35 p.m.
The third quarter is a blowout — 5:32 p.m.
The Celtics are up, 88-62, entering the fourth quarter.
The Sixers were held to just 10 points in the third quarter. Boston scored 33.
Tatum has 42 points in 36 minutes.
Celtics are up 21 — 5:22 p.m.
With 4:30 to go in the third quarter, the Celtics are up, 79-58, on the Sixers.
The Celtics are 11 for 20 from 3.
Scoring update — 5:15 p.m.
Celtics 73, Sixers 58 | 6:14, third quarter
Tatum has 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The Sixers’ leading scorer is Embiid, who has 13.
Al Horford matches up well with Embiid — 5:02 p.m.
Jayson Tatum did something that hasn’t been done in 15 years — 4:57 pm.
The Harden factor — 4:55 p.m.
At the half: Celtics 55, Sixers 52 — 4:47 p.m.
Jayson Tatum has 25 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists.
Double technical fouls for Brown, Niang — 4:35 p.m.
Jaylen Brown was defending Jame Harden, who fell to the floor near the Sixers bench. Brown appeared to exchange words with Georges Niang, who was on the Sixers’ bench.
Niang received a technical foul for touching Brown’s leg. Brown then received his own technical for “unnecessary taunting” of the Sixers’ bench.
Celtics go on 8-point run — 4:30 p.m.
Scoring update: Sixers 35, Celtics 33 | 7:57, second quarter
Watch: Harden called for flagrant foul on Brown — 4:25 p.m.
Harden lost control of the ball while trying to shoot. Brown was defending, and Harden hit Brown in the face with an elbow while near the rim.
Brown will shoot two free throws. It’s Sixers, 35-27, with 8:26 left in the second quarter.
Scoring update — 4:19 p.m.
10:09, second quarter: Sixers 33, Celtics 26
Fans aren’t happy with that foul call — 4:14 p.m.
Mazzulla did approach Scott Foster to argue the call, but decided not to use his challenge.
End of first quarter: Sixers 29, Celtics 23 — 4:07 p.m.
PJ Tucker already has 11 points after averaging 5 a game in the playoffs this year.
Embiid showing why he’s MVP — 4:05 p.m.
Robert Kraft makes an appearance — 4:02 p.m.
Tatum has nine in the first — 4:01 p.m.
Tobias Harris injured — 3:55 p.m.
Update: Harris missed just one Tatum free throw. He’s back in the game.
Julian Edelman at the Garden — 3:53 p.m.
TV timeout score update — 3:50 p.m.
6:59, first quarter: 76ers 10, Celtics 8
Crowd goes wild for Tatum’s dunk — 3:45 p.m.
Perhaps Jayson Tatum has shaken his first-quarter blues?
After getting off to a slow start the past few games, Tatum threw down a resounding dunk to put the Celtics up 6-2 with just over nine minutes to play in the first quarter.
And we’re off — 3:42 p.m.
Robert Williams wins the opening tip.
Mark Jackson, Mike Breen to call Game 7 — 3:30 p.m.
By Chad Finn
I’ve heard a lot of gripes that Mark Jones and Doris Burke, who have called the ESPN games during the Celtics-76ers series, have been, let’s say, more enthusiastic for Sixers highlights than Celtics highlights.
I don’t believe that’s the case — no broadcaster I’ve talked to has championed Jayson Tatum more through the years than Burke — but I will concede that Jones’s enthusiasm sometimes seems influenced by the home crowd. Sunday’s Game 7 would have been the final test for that theory, but Jones and Burke won’t be at the Garden.
ESPN/ABC substituted Mike Breen and Mark Jackson into the lineup after the Lakers/Warriors series ended Saturday night. Jeff Van Gundy, who is also part of ESPN/ABC’s top team, won’t be a part of Sunday’s broadcast. He has a previously scheduled day off.
This change isn’t related to Jones and Burke’s performance or the perception of it in one market or another. It is standard policy for ESPN and ABC to have its No. 1 team, with Breen on play-by-play, call Game 7 in a semifinals series if it is the only one being played.
Today’s officiating crew — 3:25 p.m.
The juice is back — 3:20 p.m.
The Sixers’ future could ride on Game 7 — 3:10 p.m.
By Gary Washburn
There could be significant changes for the 76ers. James Harden has a player option in his contract and may look to return to Houston to end his career. Doc Rivers has helped Philadelphia improve, but the perception is the 76ers are wasting Joel Embiid’s prime years falling short of their championship goals.
The Sixers’ job is difficult. The franchise decided to rebuild after reaching the conference semifinals in 2012 and missed the playoffs and won just 109 games during The Process, the revival plan that included drafting Embiid and Ben Simmons with their lottery picks. Simmons eventually became an All-Star before flaming out in Rivers’s first year and getting traded to Brooklyn for the mercurial Harden, who reached an NBA Finals 11 years ago in Oklahoma City but hasn’t been since.
It’s been 15 years since Rivers led the Celtics to the NBA championship. Not one player from that team is active in the NBA. And while he’s likely headed for the Hall of Fame, there is increased pressure on the 61-year-old to finally deliver with a team featuring two MVPs.
Read more here.
Curious news about Game 6 officiating — 3:05 p.m.
ESPN reports that the Game 6 officiating report showed the 76ers were disadvantaged on a significant number of errors on Thursday — far more than the Celtics.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers was asked about the disparity before Game 7.
“Analytically we won the Game by 20 or whatever,” he said. “No comment.”
Rob Williams gets the start over Derrick White once again — 3:00 p.m.
By Conor Roche
The Celtics are sticking with what worked in Game 6 that helped them force a Game 7.
Robert Williams is remaining in the Celtics’ starting lineup for Sunday’s Game 7. He was inserted in the starting lineup for Thursday’s Game 6, replacing guard Derrick White. Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Al Horford are the other four starters.
The decision to switch to the double-big lineup appeared to be focused on slowing down Joel Embiid and limiting the 76ers’ ability to drive into the late and get to the basket.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s decision paid off early as the Celtics got off to a 13-3 start with the five players on the court.
The Celtics’ starting five played terrific throughout Thursday’s game. They posted a 75 defensive rating and 37.5 net rating over the 15 minutes they played, giving Boston similar defensive prowess like it did last season.
Williams’s reinsertion in the starting lineup was praised by many Celtics players. Smart said he was “ecstatic” that Williams was starting, which Brown said “made a tremendous, tremendous difference.”
Joel Embiid gets booed — 2:50 p.m.
History is on the Celtics’ side — 2:45 p.m.
History is on the Celtics’ side entering Sunday’s Game 7 against the 76ers.
No team has won more Game 7s than the Celtics (26) and while they’ve played the most Game 7s in NBA history (35), they also have the highest winning percentage among all teams that have played in multiple Game 7s (.743).
In addition, there’s also been no more frequent Game 7 matchup in NBA history than Celtics-76ers. Boston’s gone 5-2 all-time against the organization (including Boston’s Game 7 win in the 1959 Division finals against the Syracuse Nationals). The Celtics also won the last Game 7 matchup between the two franchises in 2012.
The Celtics’ current group of stars has fared well in Game 7s, too. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are 5-1 in Game 7s over their careers while Jayson Tatum has gone 4-1 in Game 7s in his career.
Let’s take a brief look at each of the 35 Game 7s the Celtics have played.
See the NBA playoff schedule and scoreboard.