Late Celtics rally falls short as they drop Game 7 and exit playoffs early

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics lost 109-100 to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7, marking their first blown 3-1 lead in playoff history. This defeat results in their earliest exit from the postseason since 2021.

Key points

Celtics lost Game 7 to 76ers 109-100
First blown 3-1 lead in Celtics playoff history
Celtics exit playoffs earlier than 2021
Jaylen Brown scored 33 points
Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 76ers

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersJaylen BrownTyrese Maxey

BOSTON — Despite trailing the Philadelphia 76ers by as many as 18 points on Saturday night, the Boston Celtics had multiple opportunities to extend their season. But, they failed to take advantage of them down the stretch, and the Green Team fell 109-100 in Game 7 of the first-round series at TD Garden. The disappointing defeat marks the Celtics' first blown 3-1 lead in the playoffs ever. It also resulted in their earliest exit from the postseason since 2021. They had a poor start to the contest but battled back in the second quarter to eventually trail 55-50 at halftime. Boston even got Philly's lead down to 1 point late in the fourth quarter with less than 4 minutes remaining. It almost seemed like the Celtics could complete the comeback when point guard Payton Pritchard attempted an open 3-pointer from the corner with 2:19 left, but the shot didn't fall.

May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) goes for a loose ball with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first quarter of game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images From there, Sixers star Tyrese Maxey scored 4 points over Philadelphia's next two possessions, essentially sealing the win and the series. Maxey finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists while 2023 MVP Joel Embiid notched a game-high 34 points to go along with 12 rebounds to send the seventh-seeded Sixers to the second round. As for the Celtics, star recorded a team-high 33 points without his on-court partner in crime active, as star forward was sidelined with left knee stiffness. His presence could've changed the game for the Celtics, however, they'll instead enter the offseason much earlier than they wanted to. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

What was the final score of the Celtics vs. 76ers Game 7?

The final score was 109-100 in favor of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Why did the Celtics exit the playoffs early in 2026?

The Celtics exited the playoffs early after losing Game 7, marking their first blown 3-1 lead in franchise history.

Who were the standout players in the Celtics vs. 76ers Game 7?

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points, while Tyrese Maxey scored 30 points for the 76ers.