Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers advanced to the Eastern Conference semi-finals by defeating the Boston Celtics 109-100 on Saturday night, completing a remarkable comeback from a 3-1 deficit. This victory marks just the 14th time in NBA playoff history that a team has achieved such a feat.

Embiid had an impressive performance, finishing with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Tyrese Maxey contributed significantly as well, scoring 30 points, while VJ Edgecombe and Paul George added 23 and 13 points, respectively.

As the No 7 seed, the 76ers are set to face the No 3 New York Knicks on Monday night in Game 1 of the second round. Post-game, Embiid emphasized the importance of home-court advantage, urging fans not to sell their tickets to Knicks supporters.

“Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re gonna need the support. Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you,” Embiid stated, expressing frustration over the previous influx of Knicks fans in Philadelphia.

Embiid even offered financial assistance to fans in need, saying, “If you need money, I’ve got you.” This comes after the 76ers' win served as a small measure of revenge against the Celtics, who had eliminated them in the previous playoffs.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points, but the absence of Jayson Tatum, ruled out just before the game due to knee stiffness, left the Celtics struggling. Coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged the team's early exit from the playoffs, marking their earliest since the 2020-21 season.

Despite challenges, Embiid made history as the first player to score 100 points in a playoff series after missing the first three games.