More than virtually every other NBA playoff permutation, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers evoke legends of years previous. Across eight totally different many years of knockout basketball, this sequence has hosted the greats — Bill Russell versus Wilt Chamberlain. Larry Bird versus Julius Erving. Paul Pierce versus Allen Iverson.
Who will shine within the newest draw? Jaylen Brown is a drive for his second-seeded Celtics, and Jayson Tatum’s return from a torn Achilles bears a hero’s arc. On the opposite finish, Tyrese Maxey has been electrical main the underdog Sixers. Rookie VJ Edgecombe reveals a world of promise, whereas celebrity Joel Embiid tries to make it back in time after an appendectomy.
Here’s what to find out about this rivalry’s newest sequence, with a full broadcast schedule spelled out under.
How to look at No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
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| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1: @ BOS | Sun., April 19 | 1 p.m. | ABC | |
2: @ BOS | Tue., April 21 | 7 p.m. | Peacock | Peacock |
3: @ PHI | Fri., April 24 | 7 p.m. | Prime Video | Prime Video |
4: @ PHI | Sun., April 26 | 7 p.m. | NBC | Peacock |
5*: @ BOS | Tue., April 28 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
6*: @ PHI | Thu., April 30 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
7*: @ BOS | Sat., May 2 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
* if obligatory
ABC and NBC are free over the air. ABC can be obtainable with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.
What to know in regards to the Celtics
For however a second, this seemed like a uncommon lull for the 18-time champions. Boston began 2025-26 with Tatum on ice, and it promptly misplaced its first three video games.
Fast-forward to the top of the common season: 56-26 and top-five rankings on either side of the ground. Of course.
This is the Celtics’ fifth consecutive season with 50+ wins. They went a lights-out 21-7 after the All-Star break. They completed as one of many sport’s most intimidating outfits — second in offensive score, fourth in defensive score, third in rebounding proportion and third in turnover proportion.
Brown posted career-best marks of 28.7 factors and 5.1 assists per sport. Tatum returned on March 6, to the shock of nearly everybody. He dropped 32 factors in a late-March return to form, and seemed to have his swagger back by early April.
The Brown-Tatum nexus is surrounded by dedicated defenders and catch-and-shoot valves. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard deliver championship mettle from the backcourt.
Sam Hauser stretches the ground; he hit 39.3 p.c of his treys this season. Neemias Queta emerged as a glass-cleaner (three offensive rebounds per sport) and a streaky shot-swatter (13 video games with no less than three blocks). To bolster its rotation, Boston added two-time All-Star Nikola Vučević on the commerce deadline.
There are hardly any weaknesses, although the Celtics did go 16-17 in clutch video games this season. Joe Mazzulla received no less than one playoff sequence in every of his first three teaching campaigns. He’s favored to take action as soon as once more.
What to know in regards to the Sixers
Embiid’s emergency surgical procedure is the most recent playoff stinger for an embattled period. The Embiid-led 76ers have been on the improper aspect of Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 bounce-bounce-bounce-bounce-in stunner. The 2021 staff collapsed, Ben Simmons included, when issues mattered most. The Sixers misplaced a sequence of improbable, painstaking finishes to the New York Knicks in 2024. Without Embiid on the court docket, Philly appears lined up for an early exit.
To be truthful, this yr’s group has seemed a step off for many of the calendar. Nick Nurse coached Philadelphia to a middling sixteenth in offensive score and seventeenth on protection this season.
Paul George was suspended 25 video games for violating league drug coverage, and he averaged a comparatively modest 17.3 factors when he performed. Embiid was restricted to only 38 video games with knee, ankle and indirect accidents. In a surprise deadline move, the entrance workplace gave up on second-year prospect Jared McCain.
But there are causes to imagine. Maxey has confirmed to be a compelling first choice. He set profession highs of 28.3 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.9 steals. Edgecombe, the No. 3 draft decide, gave followers some religion for the longer term. He’s additionally geared up to compete within the current sequence, with 80 factors scored throughout 4 Celtics matchups. Kelly Oubre Jr. had probably the most environment friendly season of his 11-year NBA tenure, and he brings an power that pops off the display.
The 76ers performed properly of their Play-In win over the Orlando Magic. Maxey poured in 31 factors, Oubre was a game-high plus-19, and Andre Drummond hit a number of 3s, imagine it or not.
Embiid’s timeline stays unclear because the playoffs start, however he’s positively out for Sunday’s opening sport. The Athletic’s Tony Jones estimated a doable window open round Game 4 or so. This sequence will get additional dramatic if Embiid’s teammates can ship a message with out him.
Head-to-head matchups this season
These two began the season collectively, and Philadelphia eked out a 117-116 win. Maxey had a 40-piece; Edgecombe notched 34 factors in his spirited professional debut. Boston evened the ledger on Halloween with a 109-108 NBA Cup victory. Brown put up 32 factors on 13-of-19 taking pictures from the sphere.
A 3rd thriller got here on Nov. 11. Justin Edwards went on a warmth verify to mount a comeback, then Oubre broke a 100-100 tie together with his put-back sport winner.
The Celtics tied the regular-season sequence of their most up-to-date matchup, a cushty dwelling W on March 1. The hosts didn’t have Tatum but, and the Sixers have been with out Embiid.
Celtics vs. Sixers playoff historical past
Boston leads the all-time sequence 15-7. The Celtics and Sixers first met in 1953, again when the latter was referred to as the Syracuse Nationals.
The franchise grew to become the Philadelphia 76ers in 1963-64, and so they confronted the Celts for a basic Eastern Division ultimate in 1965. Boston received Game 7 by a single level behind Sam Jones’ legend-making 37 factors and John Havlicek’s walk-off steal. The Celtics received one other East ultimate in 1968, taking Game 7 on the Spectrum. Bill Russell had 26 boards (!) and 10 blocks (unofficially however !!) within the 100-96 street triumph.
Philly bought proper within the subsequent decade, successful three of 4 playoff conferences between 1977-82. After the Sixers locked up Game 7 of the 1982 convention finals, Boston Garden broke out in a conciliatory “beat L.A.” chant. Andrew Toney led that sport with a steely 34 factors, whereas Julius Irving added 29 factors and 6 shares (steals+blocks).
Since then, it’s been wall-to-wall inexperienced. Within this present period, the Tatum-Brown Celtics bounced Embiid’s 76ers in 2018, 2020 and 2023. We’ll quickly know if the development barrels onward, or if a momentous break redirects the fates.
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