Sam Hauser sits as 76ers lead Celtics 32-19 in Game 7

sam hauser was not in the starting lineup, and the Philadelphia 76ers controlled the opening quarter against the Boston Celtics, leading 32-19 in Game 7 on Saturday night in Boston. The winner moves on to face the New York Knicks, while a Celtics loss would end Boston’s season for the first time since 1982.

Embiid Set the Tone

Joel Embiid opened with an elbow middie and finished the first quarter as Philadelphia’s leading scorer with 10 points. He carried the early offense while the Sixers found some separation before halftime pressure could settle in.

Philadelphia also got 9 points from VJ Edgecombe, who went 4-of-5 from the floor. That came after he had scored 10 points in Game 5 and 14 points in Game 6, the latest sign that the rookie’s role has grown as the series has tightened.

Boston Missed Tatum

Jayson Tatum was out because of left knee stiffness, and Joe Mazzulla started a Celtics lineup that had played zero minutes together this season. Boston still had Derrick White finding some rhythm offensively, and rookie Hugo Gonzalez gave the home team an emotional boost.

Paul George was also playing through an unspecified illness, which left Philadelphia managing its own front-line workload. Nick Nurse kept using Andre Drummond when Embiid went to the bench, even though the Celtics had attacked Drummond in screen-and-roll sets throughout the series.

Game 7 Pressure

Philadelphia had been 1-of-6 from deep and 12-of-19 from the floor overall at one point in the game, so the lead was built more on efficiency inside and early stops than on perimeter volume. Embiid’s comment after Game 6 — "I'm due for an efficient shooting night." — fit the start he delivered here.

The next step is simple for the two teams on the floor: the winner gets the Knicks, and the loser leaves Boston with the season over. For the Celtics, that would mean a first playoff elimination since 1982.