The Philadelphia 76ers are heading back to Boston for a winner-take-all Game 7, and they have Tyrese Maxey to thank for keeping their season alive. Maxey erupted for 30 points on Thursday night, leading the Sixers to a commanding 106-93 victory over the Celtics and evening this first-round playoff series at 3-3.

This was a performance that felt a long time coming. After getting blown out by 32 points not once, but twice in this series, the Sixers finally put together their most complete game of the season. Paul George, shaking off a roller-coaster year, added 23 points and looked like the All-Star the team signed him to be. Joel Embiid, playing through his recovery from an early-April appendectomy, chipped in 19 solid points and gave the team an emotional lift from the opening tip.

The highlight of the night—and maybe the entire series—came in the third quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. rejected Jaylen Brown's shot, Maxey scooped up the loose ball, and fed George on the break. George then delivered a jaw-dropping behind-the-back pass to rookie VJ Edgecombe, who threw down a thunderous dunk to put the Sixers up 69-54. The Wells Fargo Center erupted, riding a wave of energy that carried over from the Flyers' overtime win the night before.

While Maxey continues to prove he's a bona fide All-Star and Edgecombe has become a fan favorite and Rookie of the Year finalist, this game belonged to George. The 35-year-old signed a four-year, $212 million contract in 2024 to form a championship duo with Embiid, but his season was derailed by injuries, personal issues, and a 25-game suspension for a failed drug test. At times, he was an afterthought in the offense. Not on Thursday. George knocked down five 3-pointers, each one stretching the lead, and the offense ran through him whenever Embiid needed a breather.

The decisive Game 7 is set for Saturday in Boston. After two blowout losses on the road earlier in this series, the Sixers finally showed they can hang with the Celtics. Now, they'll need to do it one more time.