76ers-Celtics Game 7 will air on TV, narrowly avoiding streaming paywall

The 76ers are headed to Boston to face the Celtics in a win-or-go-home Game 7 of their first-round playoff series Saturday night.

Thankfully, the game will air on broadcast television.

With the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves both winning their own playoff series Thursday night, Sixers-Celtics lands on NBC, where it will air following the 152nd Kentucky Derby.

Post time at the Derby is 6:57 p.m. Philly time, with tipoff for Game 7 scheduled for just after 7:30 p.m.

That also means Mike Tirico won’t be calling the action, since he’ll be hosting the Derby nearly a thousand miles southwest of Boston in Louisville. Instead, Noah Eagle will call the game alongside Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford. Zora Stephenson will report from TD Garden.

Had the Timberwolves lost, Sixers-Celtics would’ve been pushed on to Amazon’s Prime Video to stream at 4:30 p.m., not exactly prime placement for two of the league’s marquee franchises and two of the county’s largest media markets.

Thankfully that won’t be the case, especially because Game 1 of the Flyers second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes is also taking place Saturday at 8 p.m., airing on ABC.

Sixers fans have been forced to dance around the dial all series, thanks to the league’s decision to take away local broadcast rights from NBC Sports Philadelphia during the first round of the playoffs. By comparison, Flyers fans were able to hear Jim Jackson, the team’s longtime TV voice, call every game of their thrilling first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

At least Kate Scott, the TV voice of the Sixers, seems to be enjoying herself.

The best moment in NBC’s broadcast of Game 6 came during the third quarter, when the Sixers paired a Kelly Oubre Jr. layup and VJ Edgecombe dunk to extend their lead over the Celtics.

After Joel Embiid offered a filthy, behind-the-back pass on the baseline to Oubre, Hill couldn’t hold back his excitement on NBC’s broadcast.

“No appendix, no problem!” Hill proclaimed.

Hill was referring to Embiid’s recent appendectomy after being diagnosed with appendicitis. He was discharged from the hospital on April 10, and just three weeks later he’s been on the court pushing the Sixers to an improbable Game 7 in Boston.

Last night, Embiid put up 19 points and posted his 42nd playoff double-double, third in franchise history behind Dolph Schayes (58) and Wilt Chamberlain (44).

NBC did all the little things rights during Thursday night’s broadcast, including airing player introductions by retiring public address announcer Matt Cord. Not only did it offer viewers a glimpse of the frenetic atmosphere inside Xfinity Mobile Arena, it’s a major improvement over any other pregame chatter and made it feel like a big game.

The NBA’s scattered approach to the playoffs will continue in Round 2, with games divided among ESPN, NBC, and Amazon thanks to the league new 11-year, $77 billion TV rights deal.

Things settle down for the Eastern Conference finals, which will all air on ESPN and ABC. NBC will broadcast the Western Conference finals this season.

The NBA Finals will air on ABC and ESPN beginning June 3.

The Sixers need to overcome some history to punch their first ticket to the second round since 2023. Philly is 0-18 all time in playoff series where they’ve gone down 3-1. Conversely, the Celtics are a perfect 32-0 when leading a playoff series 3-1.

“We have a chance to accomplish something special,” Embiid told reporters after the game.