Heading into Saturday's Game 7, the Sixers hadn't beat the Boston Celtics in a playoff series since 1982 . The Celtics were 32-0 all-time after going up 3-1 in a playoff series, while the Sixers were 0-18 all-time after going down 3-1.

The Celtics were up 3-1 against the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs this year after their second 32-point blowout in Game 4. They were headed back to Boston for Game 5 and figured to take care of business there and then. The Sixers were plus-2200 underdogs to win the series going into that game, per Patrick Everson of Vegas Insider.

Instead, the Sixers defied 40-plus years of history.

After beating the Celtics by double digits in both Games 5 and 6, the Sixers got off to a double-digit lead in the first quarter of Game 7.…