BOSTON (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t know how many games, if any, they could count on from Joel Embiid in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
It turned out to be just enough.
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Philadelphia 76ers' players greet teammate VJ Edgecombe (77) after he hit a third quarter three point shot during Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey (left) and teammate VJ Edgecombe (right) during the second half of Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (right) and Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (left) embrace following Philadelphia's victory in Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid celebrates following his team's victory over the Boston Celtics after the Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
After debuting in Game 4 following appendectomy surgery last month, the former MVP played some of the best playoff basketball of his career over the final four games of the series to lead the 76ers to a 109-100 Game 7 victory over a Celtics team that had looked like a potential NBA title contender.
The No. 7 seed’s reward is an Eastern Conference semifinals matchup with the No. 3 seed New York Knicks that begins Monday.
In leading Philadelphia to just its second road Game 7 victory ever and first since 1982 against Boston, Embiid finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to become the first player in NBA history to score 100 points in a playoff series despite missing the first three games.
“Sometimes I’ve been in those positions where I’ve come up short,” Embiid said. “I’ve always said it, you can’t win alone. You need a team. ... The way we’re playing right now, we’re so in sync, offensively, defensively.”
He and Tyrese Maxey (30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists) also became the third duo in league history to each have 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a Game 7.
Maxey said this series demonstrated how he now knows when to be assertive and when to defer to Embiid.
“It’s a growth, because I had to learn when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive,” Maxey said. “It got a little bit difficult in the middle of this season. I was basically being first option every single night. Then he comes back and I’ve got to find a way to do both. And he does a really good job of just keeping me engaged and keeping me confident and keep me like, ’Hey I need you to do what you do.'"
The 76ers will need everything Embiid gave and more to compete with a Knicks team that plays a much more physical game than Boston.
Nurse said he believes Embiid is up for the challenge. He was limping at times in Game 7 but then got extra treatment while on the bench just to be able to contribute late.
He had reason to be fatigued because even though nine 76ers players touched the floor in Game 7, only six logged double-digit minutes. Embiid played 39 minutes, tying his series high.
“He was doing everything he could to stay in the game,” Nurse said. “Obviously, we ran a lot of things through him and we did just enough.”
Nurse said being able to come out the hostile environment of TD Garden with a victory will serve his team well going forward.
“It’s really good for us to go through that and respond to it,” Nurse said. “It’s going to be like that in the playoffs. You’re going to be in tight games and it’s going to be super loud. ... And you just have to play through it.”
Nurse said he believes the difference was making Boston play halfcourt sets over the final three minutes after the Celtics were able to play in transition for about 12 straight minutes in the third and fourth quarters.
That’s a lesson he hopes can be applied to New York.
“In the last two (games) and portions of this one, we just guarded really well,” Nurse said.
While there was satisfaction in beating Boston, Embiid said they have loftier goals.
“One series. Got more to go,” he said.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Philadelphia 76ers' players greet teammate VJ Edgecombe (77) after he hit a third quarter three point shot during Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey (left) and teammate VJ Edgecombe (right) during the second half of Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (right) and Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (left) embrace following Philadelphia's victory in Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid celebrates following his team's victory over the Boston Celtics after the Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)
SILICON VALLEY, Calif. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 12, 2026--
Today, Archer (NYSE: ACHR) and Formula 1 announced a multi-year partnership for Archer to be at select Grands Prix events that align with key commercial markets the company plans to operate in across the US, Middle East, Asia and Europe. Additionally, the partners plan to explore the future integration of eVTOL air taxi services at Grand Prix events with the goal of flying VIPs and fans to and from Grand Prix circuits in minutes aboard Midnight.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261112202685/en/
The partnership will explore opportunities such as dedicated air taxi drop-off and pick-up locations at circuits and the inclusion of air taxi services as part of Formula 1’s hospitality and ticketing offerings. As Archer’s commercial eVTOL air taxi operations come online in F1 markets, the goal is to provide fans with an option to skip traffic between major airports, business hubs, and other key destinations on their way to and from Grand Prix events.
“Innovation is at the heart of Formula 1, and Archer shares our passion for pushing boundaries and exploring what is possible,” said Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1. “This collaboration is an exciting opportunity to work together to explore how new ideas and technologies can continue to evolve and elevate the experience we create for our fans at our events.”
Archer’s planned US air taxi networks map closely to Formula 1’s race locations, including Miami and Texas where Archer has unveiled planned infrastructure networks. Internationally, Archer’s commercial roll out plans across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe provide a foundation for future service in additional race cities around the world. Midnight was on display for fans at the United States Grand Prix in Austin as an Official Supporter of F1 and will again be on display at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later this year.
“With 830 million fans worldwide, Formula 1 gives us a global audience of prospective passengers who are as obsessed with high-performance vehicles as we are,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “Motorsport and aerospace share the same engineering DNA, which made this a natural partnership. We look forward to working with Formula 1 to explore new technologies and how innovation on the ground and in the sky could come together to create a truly unique experience for fans at the track.”
The power-to-weight demands of eVTOL are comparable to F1. Similar to an F1 car, Archer’s electric propulsion, advanced composites and aerodynamics are engineered as one system. Every gram of structure earns its place, and every aerodynamic surface is designed around the powertrain it wraps. Through the partnership, the two organizations aim to give F1 fans around the world a firsthand look at Archer’s innovative technology.
Archer’s goal with its Midnight aircraft is to transform urban travel, replacing long commutes with quiet, all-electric flights that dramatically reduce travel times compared to traditional ground transportation. Archer’s all-electric Midnight air taxi is designed around the urban air mobility use case with the ability to conduct rapid back-to-back flights with zero operating emissions.
About Archer
Archer builds the aircraft and core technologies that will define the next era of flight for aerospace and defense. To learn more, visit www.archer.com.
About Formula 1®
Formula 1® racing began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, as well as the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1® and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™. Formula 1® is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: FWONA, FWONK, LLYVA, LLVYK) attributed to the Formula One Group tracking stock. The F1 logo, F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.
Source: Archer Aviation
Text: ArcherIR
Archer Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Archer’s future business plans, expectations, and opportunities. These statements include those regarding the design; target specifications; aircraft use cases; timing of Archer’s development, commercialization, and certification of its aircraft; initiatives relating to its planned air taxi networks, including the expected timing, locations and operations under the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program; and anticipated benefits of collaborations with third parties, including Formula 1. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed in Archer’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that Archer believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Archer undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.
Archer Partners with Formula 1
