The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t just lose three of the first four games in their First Round NBA Playoffs series against the Boston Celtics. They were blown out twice, dropping Game 1 and Game 4 by more than 30 points each. But now, we’re seeing a much different version of that team.
Facing down a Boston squad picked by many to win the Eastern Conference, Philly’s taken the last two games in convincing fashion, looking like a playoff team in ways that even the mighty Celtics haven’t always been able to handle. Now they’ve fought their way back and forced a Game 7, and you can catch the win-or-go-home action live on the NBA on NBC and Peacock.
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How to watch Game 7 of Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics First Round NBA Playoffs series
Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Following NBC and Peacock’s wall-to-wall coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Game 7 of the First Round NBA Playoffs series between the Philadephia 76ers and Boston Celtics is set for Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m., live from TD Garden in Boston. You’ll be able to catch the action live on NBC, or stream it in simulcast on Peacock.
Noah Eagle will be on the play-by-play call for NBC Sports alongside analysis from Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford and courtside reporting from Zora Stephenson. And, since this marks the first NBA Playoffs Game 7 on NBC in nearly 25 years (more on that below!), NBC Sports is pulling out all the stops with a special on-site edition of the NBA Showtime pregame show. Join host Maria Taylor live on Peacock at 6:30 p.m. ET to get all the expert analysis from Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.
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NBA on NBC
The NBA is officially back on NBC and Peacock, with exclusive games every week across broadcast and streaming featuring some of the biggest stars in the game.
The fun continues on NBC and Peacock with the NBA Playoffs from Round 1 starting on Sunday, April 19, and continuing through the Western Conference Finals at the end of May!
From real-time stats and predictive fun to highlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features puts you in control of how you watch the game:
Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing experience with new camera feeds and immersive perspectives that bring you to center court. Available weekly for select games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays showing playing insights, heat maps, scoring probabilities, and more.
Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock mobile app for quick recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout plays, wherever you are.
Peacock ScoreCard: Turn every game into an interactive experience. Pick from a range of cards and watch as your predictions come true.
Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal game moments with a curated playlist you can access anytime below your player controls.
Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you’re not missing a second of the NBA action. You can also gift the experience!
What to watch for in Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Game 7
Joel Embiid, #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers, shoots the ball as Nikola Vucevic, #4 of the Boston Celtics, defends at the NBA Playoffs game.
Let’s make one thing clear: The Celtics are still the Celtics. Their stars, particularly Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, are healthy, they’ve still got the talent necessary to take them all the way to the Conference Finals and beyond, and they get home court advantage Saturday night in Boston, where a no-doubt raucous hometown crowd will be ready to boost them as much as possible. They are still the favorites to win this series, and they can still win convincingly.
But, momentum is on the Sixers’ side, and they’re also chasing a bit of history. Philadelphia hasn’t won a playoff series against Boston since 1982. It’s been more than 40 years, and it’s finally within reach, thanks to Tyrese Maxey holding down his end of the court (he put up 30 in Game 6), Joel Embiid storming back from injury to distribute the ball as much as he scores (19 points and 10 assists in Game 6), and Paul George finally locking in his place in the Sixers lineup as an on-court leader who can turn on the star power when needed. They’ve found another gear in these past few days, but can they get past Boston’s stout defense when it’s all on the line? Expect an all-out fight in this one.
When was the last Game 7 broadcast by the NBA on NBC?
After the return of the NBA on NBC this season, the 76ers vs. Celtics game on Saturday, May 2 marks NBC Sports’ first NBA Playoffs Game 7 since June 2, 2002, when the dynamic duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Finals.
When is the last time an NBA Playoff game followed the Kentucky Derby?
Saturday’s Game 7 of the 76ers-Celtics NBA Playoffs series on NBC and Peacock will immediately follow NBC Sports’ extensive coverage of the 152nd Kentucky Derby, live from Churchill Downs. The last time an NBA Playoff game followed the Derby was May 4, 2002, when the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki lost to the Sacramento Kings and Peja Stojakovic in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on NBC.
2026 Kentucky Derby
The 2026 Kentucky Derby runs for the roses Saturday, May 2, with NBC Sports’ coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, bringing you all the fun and pageantry all day long, live from Churchill Downs. And tune in one day early for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks, featuring the sports’ premier three-year-old fillies running in primetime on Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.