The Boston Celtics’ season came to a stunning and bitter end in the 2026 NBA playoffs, as they squandered a 3-1 series lead and suffered a heartbreaking Game 7 loss at home to the Philadelphia 76ers. What should have been a stepping stone toward another deep postseason run instead became one of the most infamous collapses in recent franchise history.
Rather than reflecting on the team’s shortcomings, star forward Jaylen Brown took to Twitch the following day to voice his frustrations. Brown accused the referees of harboring an agenda against him and singled out Joel Embiid for what he described as excessive flopping throughout the series. The comments, intended perhaps to rally support or vent legitimate grievances, instead drew widespread criticism for a perceived lack of accountability.
Stephen A. Smith pulls no punches
On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith delivered a scathing takedown of Brown’s remarks, framing them as tone-deaf given the context of the series and Brown’s stature in the league.
“Bro, you get paid over $300 million. You were an MVP candidate,” Smith said. “You were up 3-1 in the series. Did you say anything when you were up 3-1? Did you say anything then? No, you didn’t.”
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Smith pointed out the inconsistency in Brown’s complaints. Embiid, who underwent an appendectomy on April 9, missed the first three games of the series. He returned in Game 4, posting a solid 26 points and 10 rebounds. Yet the Celtics responded with a dominant 128-96 victory. At that time, there were no public gripes from Boston about Embiid’s playing style or the officiating.
Embiid’s return and the shifting series
Coming off Jayson Tatum’s surprise recovery from an Achilles injury in March, the Celtics entered the postseason as clear favorites to represent the Eastern Conference. They looked the part early, building a commanding 3-1 lead behind strong performances from both Tatum and Brown.
Philadelphia, however, refused to fold. Under head coach Nick Nurse, the 76ers mounted a remarkable comeback. Embiid’s availability in the later games altered the dynamic, though Boston’s collapse in Game 7 ultimately had more to do with self-inflicted wounds than external factors.
The decisive moments in Game 7
With just over two minutes remaining and the Celtics trailing by one, Brown found himself with the ball and made what he later called the correct decision. He passed to a wide-open Payton Pritchard in the corner. The reliable shooter, however, misfired. Brown stood by the choice in his stream.
“I’m seeing Payton in the corner, wide open. On time, and on target, to one of the best shooters in the league. I’m doing that a hundred times out of a hundred,” Brown said. “All season long, Payton Pritchard has been that motherf—-r for us, and he still is that motherfu—-r for us. So I’m doing that 10 times out of 10.”
Unfortunately, the sequence unraveled from there. Tyrese Maxey answered with a layup to push the lead to three. Brown then missed a 15-foot pull-up jumper, and Maxey converted another layup on the ensuing possession, extending Philadelphia’s advantage to five points. The Celtics would miss 11 of their final 12 shots.
Statistically, Boston’s night was defined by cold shooting: they finished an abysmal 13-of-49 from three-point range and missed 7 of 16 free throws. The 76ers attempted only three more free throws than the Celtics, undermining claims that officiating was the decisive factor.
Smith’s verdict: Execution, not excuses
Stephen A. Smith was unequivocal in his analysis. While acknowledging Brown’s frustration with Embiid’s flopping, he emphasized that it was not the reason for the loss.
“How about the fact that you were down 20 and you pulled to within one, and then over the last two minutes, the Boston Celtics launched six straight 3’s. Didn’t even try to get to the hole,” Smith noted. “The point is, when something like that happens, you cannot have that residue of that experience you’re griping about, Joel Embiid flopping. That is not why the Boston Celtics lost. The Boston Celtics lost because they live and die by the 3, and they played dumb basketball down the stretch.”
The Celtics’ heavy reliance on perimeter shooting proved fatal in the biggest moment. Despite a valiant rally, their inability to generate consistent interior offense or close out the game effectively sealed their fate.
In the aftermath of one of the most disappointing exits in recent memory, Brown’s Twitch rant has only intensified scrutiny on the Celtics’ leadership and mental toughness. As the franchise looks ahead, the focus will inevitably turn to whether this group can learn from the collapse or if deeper changes are required to reclaim their status as Eastern Conference contenders. For now, the sting of a blown 3-1 lead—and the very public criticism that followed—will linger in Boston.