Jayson Tatum Scores 51 as Celtics Rout Sixers in Game 7

Before the sport, 76ers Coach Doc Rivers acknowledged the veracity of the report. The evaluation had been shared with each groups.

“It was disappointing to see, honestly,” stated Rivers, who rattled by means of an abridged listing of the blown calls that he felt had hindered his crew. He added, “Having said that, it’s a human game, and you have to play through it.”

Game 7s are inherently necessary, however a lot appeared to hinge on this one for each groups. For the Celtics, a loss would have represented a stark regression from all that they achieved final season, after they superior to the N.B.A. finals earlier than shedding to the Golden State Warriors in six video games.

But progress is seldom linear, and the Celtics confronted an unusually rocky path this season: an surprising teaching change earlier than the beginning of coaching camp, a season-ending harm to Danilo Gallinari earlier than he even appeared in a recreation, and a protection that lacked its acquainted oomph.

For the 76ers, Sunday’s recreation, truthful or not, arrange as one thing of a referendum on the Process, the team-building train that, as one in every of its foundational items, landed them Embiid within the 2014 N.B.A. draft. But now was the time for a deep playoff run. Rivers acknowledged the stress earlier than the sport.

“But this is what it’s about,” he stated. “You put yourself out there because you want to win, and you know if you do that, you have to put yourself in these situations, over and over and over again. And it’s worth it.”

At the identical time, Rivers anticipated the significance of his key gamers pushing themselves “to the max of exhaustion.” Embiid spent his remaining few quiet moments earlier than the tip dribbling close to the halfcourt circle. He even hoisted a few fake photographs earlier than handing the ball to his teammate Tyrese Maxey.