The Boston Celtics’ stunning collapse against the 76ers has sparked plenty of criticism, but none louder than Stephen A. Smith. The ESPN analyst had harsh words for Jaylen Brown after Boston blew a 3‑1 series lead and fell in Game 7. Yankee Scores reports.
Brown’s Frustration Spills Over
Following the loss, Brown went live on Twitch, venting about Joel Embiid’s flopping and claiming referees had a personal agenda against him. He pointed to the 10 offensive fouls called against him as proof. But his comments drew little sympathy, with many questioning his accountability.
Stephen A. Smith Responds
On First Take, Smith tore into Brown’s remarks. “You’re getting paid over $300 million. You were an MVP candidate. You were up 3‑1 in this series. Did you say anything when you were up 3‑1? No you didn’t… That is not why the Celtics lost. They lost because they live and die by the 3 and they play dumb basketball down the stretch.”
“It’s an awful, AWFUL look for [Jaylen Brown].”@stephenasmith reacts to Jaylen Brown calling out Joel Embiid for flopping 😳 pic.twitter.com/dScsBwiHVz
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 4, 2026
Shooting Woes Cost Boston
Smith’s critique echoed the numbers. Boston shot just 26.5% from three in Game 7, hitting 13 of 49 attempts. Brown scored 33 points but struggled from deep, connecting on only 33.3% of his shots from beyond the arc. Those inefficiencies proved costly as Embiid and Tyrese Maxey carried Philadelphia to the upset.
