The Boston Celtics definitely showed up to Sunday’s Game 7. The Philadelphia 76ers, however, were a different story.
After the Sixers were bested by the Celtics at home on Thursday, the series flipped back to Boston for the deciding Game 7. And for most of Sunday’s game, the Celtics were in complete control in a totally dominant performance, finishing the Sixers’ championship hopes with a 112-88 victory.
At one point the Celtics even lead the Sixers by a 30-point margin. In a Game 7! Suffice it to say, the Sixers had an absolutely horrific performance in their final game of the season. Joel Embiid — fresh off his first NBA MVP award — and James Harden combined for 24 points in 79 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum dropped 51 points — the most ever in a Game 7 — to lead the Celtics in an absolute beatdown of the Sixers.
51 points for Jayson Tatum!
The most ever in a Game 7 pic.twitter.com/BO1tskp8nX
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 14, 2023
With the loss, Doc Rivers now drops to 17-33 all-time when presented with an opportunity to close out a playoff series.
It’s hard to say what will become of this Sixers team in the offseason, but NBA fans were not shy to let their feelings known about Philadelphia’s Game 7 disappointment.
The Sixers look CLUELESS and like they don't belong on this stage.
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) May 14, 2023
The Sixers are collapsing on the court. Only question now is if this implosion carries over to the offseason.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 14, 2023
Sixers having to go back to Boston to get embarrassed in Game 7 is the most second-round Sixers experience in two crushing decades of them
— Jawn Gonzalez (@JohnGonzalez) May 14, 2023
Doc Rivers, it’s the pic.twitter.com/EQWJQDzCZH
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 14, 2023
Doc Rivers in elimination games pic.twitter.com/ctXVZyPpSu
— Justin Phan (@jphanned) May 14, 2023
A parade down Broad Street, but for the firing tomorrow of Doc Rivers
— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) May 14, 2023
https://t.co/hlz1LNhTKy pic.twitter.com/b8Cu9qAZC3
— Kofie (@Kofie) May 14, 2023
Harden and Embiid are SCARED!!! Ain’t no other way around it. They should be EMBARRASSED
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 14, 2023
Tatum is a killer when everything is on the line, Embiid & Harden are not. It’s that simple.
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) May 14, 2023
Philly was at home with a chance to close out Boston with Tatum having the worst game of his life… they squandered that opportunity & this is what they get.
Also, Harden has somehow found a way to undo all the goodwill from Games 1 & 4 with his performances in Games 6 & 7.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 14, 2023
