Breaking down a weekend of Game 7s on the hardwood and the ice

The GIST: While the first of the NHL conference semis started with a bang, this weekend was all about the best two words in sports — Game 7 — with three do-or-die NBA playoff games and another in the NHL. That’s a whole lot of heart-pumping action.

🏀💙 Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons beat the odds: Just 4.4% of NBA teams have ever overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series. This weekend, it happened twice.

• Sixers superstar Joel Embiid’s 34 points paced Philly to a 109–100 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday, marking the first time since 1982 the Sixers have beaten their archnemesis in a postseason series. Redemption? Arced. Next opponent: NY Knicks.

• The Pistons were in danger of becoming just the ninth No. 1 seed in league history to lose to a No. 8. Instead, they won their first playoff series since 2008, using 32 points from Cade Cunningham to seal yesterday’s 116–94 win over the Orlando Magic. Next opponent: ⬇️

🏀⚔️ Cleveland Cavaliers dismantle shorthanded Toronto Raptors: Must-win games have not been kind to Cavs star James Harden…until last night. Harden’s streak of three straight Game 7 losses ended with Cleveland’s 114–102 win as six Cavs scored in double-figures to punch the Cavaliers’ second round ticket.

• As for Toronto, the Dinos took a giant step forward this season, highlighted by the playoff contributions of three youngsters: 23-year-old Jamal Shead, 21-year-old Ja’Kobe Walter, and 20-year-old rookie Collin Murray-Boyles. Yep, the future’s bright.

🏒❤️ Montreal Canadiens outlast Tampa Bay Lightning: After a thrilling series that saw all seven games decided by one goal and four require overtime, the youngest team in the playoffs are second-round bound. This series was a lesson in exceptional goaltending, but Montréal’s Jakub Dobeš had the last laugh, making 28 saves in last night’s 2–1 win. Next opponent: Buffalo Sabres.