Celtics to Face 76ers in First Round of NBA Playoffs

Boston holds home-court advantage as the two teams renew their storied postseason rivalry

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:36am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and the court and arena fading into the background.The storied Celtics-76ers playoff rivalry is set to resume, with the two teams battling for a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. The Celtics, the second seed in the Eastern Conference, hold home-court advantage and will host the first two games of the series at TD Garden. This will be the latest chapter in the long-standing playoff rivalry between the two teams, with the Celtics holding a 15-7 edge in their previous 22 postseason matchups.

Why it matters

The Celtics-76ers rivalry is one of the most storied in NBA history, with the two teams meeting in the playoffs 22 times. Boston has the clear edge, winning 15 of those series, including the last six. This matchup will be closely watched as the two teams battle for a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The details

The Celtics will host the first two games of the series on April 19 and 21 at TD Garden. The series will then shift to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4, before potentially returning to Boston for Games 5, 6, and 7 if necessary. The Celtics hold the rest advantage, having sat their starters in the regular season finale, while the 76ers may be without star center Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an appendectomy.

  • The NBA regular season ended on April 13, 2026.
  • The Celtics and 76ers will begin their first-round playoff series on April 19, 2026.
  • Games 1 and 2 will be played in Boston on April 19 and 21.
  • Games 3 and 4 will be played in Philadelphia on dates to be determined.
  • Games 5, 6, and 7 (if necessary) will be played on dates to be determined.

The players

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, having finished the regular season with a 54-28 record.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, having won their NBA Play-In Tournament matchup against the Orlando Magic.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward, who missed time earlier in the season due to an Achilles injury, is now back and healthy for the playoffs.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' star center is still recovering from an appendectomy and has no timetable for his return, which could be a significant blow to Philadelphia's playoff hopes.

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What’s next

The Celtics and 76ers will announce the full schedule for their first-round playoff series in the coming days.

The takeaway

The Celtics-76ers rivalry is one of the most storied in the NBA, and this latest playoff matchup will be closely watched as the two teams battle for a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston's home-court advantage and the potential absence of Joel Embiid could give the Celtics an edge, but the 76ers will be looking to pull off the upset and advance.