The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead for the first time in franchise history and lost a Game 7 to the Philadelphia 76ers after 42 years, as their season ended in anticlimactic fashion on Saturday.
The C’s made more unwanted NBA playoff history in Game 7.
According to ESPN Insights, the Celtics became the first team ever to have three starters in a playoff game finish with zero points.
“The Celtics are the first team to have three different starters (Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr.) with 0 points in a playoff game since starters were first tracked in 1970-71.”
The trio shot a combined 0-for-7 from the floor in the 109-100 loss, although Harper Jr. (four minutes) and Garza (nine minutes) logged less than 10 minutes.
The three players were inserted into the starting unit after Jayson Tatum (keee) was ruled out barely an hour before tip-off.
In the previous six games of the series, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla started the unit of Tatum, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. However, Tatum’s injury forced Mazzulla to make a significant change to the starting unit.
Celtics Blow 3-1 Series Lead
The Celtics were massive -650 favorites when they took a 3-1 series lead. At that stage, they had already blown out the 76ers twice — in Game 1 (123-91) and Game 4 (128-96).
According to ESPN Insights, the Celtics are just the second team in NBA playoffs history to lose a series after two 30+ points wins, joining the 1959 Hawks.
“The Celtics are the second team in NBA history to lose a playoff series despite multiple 30-point wins in the series! 😳
“They join the 1959 Hawks, who lost the West Division Finals to the Lakers in six games.”
They join the 1959 Hawks, who lost the West Division Finals to the Lakers in six games.
Celtics Season Ends With a Whimper
Although Tatum’s injury played a role in their eventual series loss, the Celtics didn’t help their case with their erratic shooting performances. The Celtics lost three consecutive home games in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, dropping Games 2, 5 and 7, besides losing on the road in Game 6.
Despite the playoffs collapse, the Celtics had a pretty good 2025-26 season, given that Jayson Tatum was expected to have a red-shirt year after tearing his Achilles last year. Ultimately, they won 56 games and entered the playoffs as the favorites to win the East.
“Great season,” Brown said after the Game 7 loss.
“Obviously, it didn’t finish the way we would’ve liked. I give credit to Philadelphia. I watched them get better as the series went on. But just for our guys to come out in a Game 7 and play with that level of intensity and trust, that’s the style we felt like we’ve been doing all year, and I loved it.
“In the fourth quarter we had some great looks I wish would’ve went down,” Brown added. “But nothing to hang my head over. Nothing for us to hang our head over.”
Celtics Made Unwanted NBA Playoffs History in Game 7 vs Sixers