The 32-game perfect Celtics streak that ended in Game 5 loss to 76ers

Story by

Jedd Pagaduan, ClutchPoints

Wed, April 29, 2026 at 4:15 AM UTC ·

2 min read

The 32-game perfect Celtics streak that ended in Game 5 loss to 76ers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Everything seemed to be lining up for the Boston Celtics in their quest to finish off the Philadelphia 76ers to punch their ticket to the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. They had taken care of business in two games on the road, which gave them a 3-1 series lead heading into a pivotal Game 5 in the friendly confines of TD Garden.

However, the Celtics could not finish the job . Despite having the upper hand over the 76ers for most of the game, the Celtics faltered when it mattered the most, as the 76ers ramped up the aggression and intensity in the fourth quarter and held them to just 11 points in the final frame on their way to a season-saving 113-97 victory.

History suggested that the Celtics were well on their way to dispatching of the 76ers. As pointed out by NBC Sports Philadelphia, Boston was previously unbeaten in 32 games when up 3-1 in a playoff series. This loss on Tuesday was their first in franchise history when holding such a series lead.

On the contrary, this was the 76ers’ first win when down 3-1 in any playoff series. Both teams bucked historic trends on Tuesday, and it will be very interesting to see where this matchup goes from here.

Of course, the Celtics are still in an advantageous position in the series, as they only need to win more game to close things out. Nonetheless, any NBA player would say that the closeout game is the most difficult in any series, as the team on the brink of elimination typically plays with an air of desperation that is difficult to match.

Still, the 76ers lost both of their playoff games thus far at home, so the Celtics will not be fazed when they step into Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday night as they look to rectify their mistakes on Tuesday and finish off the job.