Celtics vs. 76ers Playoff Series Schedule Revealed

Key dates, channels, and streaming info for the first-round matchup between the No. 2 Celtics and No. 7 76ers.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:18am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the intense action and competition of a basketball game between the Celtics and 76ers, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of bright, contrasting colors.The Celtics and 76ers will renew their storied playoff rivalry in a first-round series filled with high-stakes drama and explosive action.Boston Today

The Celtics will face the 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 56-26 record. Despite missing star Jayson Tatum for much of the year, the Celtics maintained an elite offense and defense, led by Jaylen Brown. The 76ers clinched a playoff berth by winning the Play-In Tournament. This will be the first postseason meeting between the two teams since 2023.

Why it matters

The Celtics-76ers rivalry is one of the most storied in the NBA, with the two teams meeting in the playoffs numerous times over the decades. This first-round matchup will renew that historic feud and provide an early test for a Celtics team looking to make a deep playoff run after a strong regular season.

The details

The Celtics will have home-court advantage in the series, with the first two games taking place at TD Garden in Boston. The series will then shift to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 before potentially returning to Boston for Games 5, 6, and 7 if necessary. All games will be broadcast nationally on a combination of ABC, ESPN, NBC, and various streaming platforms.

  • The first game of the series will be on April 19 at 1 p.m. ET.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for April 21 at 7 p.m. ET.
  • The series then shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 on April 24 and 26.

The players

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' All-Star guard who led the team in scoring this season with Tatum out for much of the year.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' superstar forward who returned from an Achilles injury to help the team finish the season strong.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' dominant center and perennial MVP candidate who will look to lead his team to an upset over the Celtics.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited for the challenge of facing the Celtics in the playoffs. They're a great team, but we feel confident in our ability to compete with them.”

— Joel Embiid, 76ers Center

“The Celtics have been through a lot this season, but we're battle-tested and ready to make a deep playoff run. This is the kind of series our fans have been waiting for.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Guard

What’s next

The winner of the Celtics-76ers series will advance to face the winner of the Knicks-Hawks series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Celtics and 76ers promises to be an exciting and hard-fought series between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams. The Celtics will be favored, but the 76ers have the talent to pull off the upset, setting up a potentially epic clash between these historic rivals.