NBA playoffs Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers Boston Celtics NBA injuries Jayson Tatum Baylor Scheierman Ron Harper Jr. Luka Garza playoff collapse

The Boston Celtics' first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers was a rollercoaster, decided over seven games. The contrasting fortunes of each team's franchise player highlighted the dramatic shift in momentum.

Sixers center Joel Embiid erupted mid-series, just 17 days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, quickly establishing himself as the dominant force. Meanwhile, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who had returned two months earlier after a successful right Achilles repair, suffered a setback. He tweaked his left knee, exited Game 6 early, and was sidelined for Game 7 entirely.

By the decisive Game 7, the Sixers held a clear talent advantage. The Celtics, forced into desperation, started three players—Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., and Luka Garza—who had never before and would likely never again start a postseason game. Their combined output? Zero points. This made them the first trio of playoff starters to go scoreless since tracking began in the 1970-71 season.

Despite this historic underperformance, the Celtics managed to keep the final margin within single digits. They ultimately fell to the Sixers, 109-100, on Saturday, marking a stunning end to a series filled with unexpected twists.

"Given this historic feat, it was a little surprising that the Celtics even managed to keep the final margin within single digits."
Source: Defector
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