CELTICS-76ERS GAME 7 REACTION: Maxey & Embiid beat Jaylen Brown, clinch series w/ Jayson Tatum hurt

The Hoops Tonight podcast delivers a fiery, in-depth breakdown of the Celtics' heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the 76ers, emphasizing how Joel Embiid’s return fundamentally shifted the series. Host Jason Timpf argues that Embiid’s dominance on both ends—particularly his ability to shut down the rim and force Boston into inefficient pull-up shots—was the decisive factor. Despite Boston’s strong regular-season form and Jalen Brown’s stellar play, the Celtics were undone by a baffling starting lineup decision from coach Joe Mazzulla, who started Luca Garza and Ron Harper Jr. over more experienced players like Nikola Vucevic. The episode critiques Mazzulla’s decision as a strategic misstep that set a negative tone, while praising Tyrese Maxey and Paul George for their clutch performances. Timpf also reflects on the Celtics’ roster limitations, especially at center, and suggests Brad Stevens will need to make aggressive offseason moves to address depth and versatility. Despite the loss, Timpf concludes the season exceeded expectations, with Jalen Brown’s growth and four new rotation players being major positives. The episode ends with anticipation for the Knicks-76ers series and a live post-game show the following night.