Celtics Dominate 76ers in Game 1 Behind Jaylen Brown's Big Night

Boston cruises to double-digit win at home as Brown stuffs the stat sheet

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:11pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with overlapping planes of vibrant green, blue, and red colors representing the intensity of the playoff matchup.Jaylen Brown's dominant performance propels the Celtics to a Game 1 victory over the 76ers in their first-round playoff clash.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-99 in Game 1 of their first-round NBA Playoffs series. Celtics star Jaylen Brown led the way with a dominant performance, recording 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists to power the home team to a comfortable victory.

Why it matters

This win gives the Celtics an early 1-0 series lead as they look to avenge their 2023 playoff loss to the 76ers. Brown's stellar play showed why he is considered one of the league's elite two-way players and a driving force behind Boston's championship aspirations.

The details

The Celtics took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring the 76ers 33-22 to build a double-digit halftime lead. Brown was the catalyst, scoring 18 points in the first half. Philadelphia struggled without star center Joel Embiid, who missed the game due to injury. Boston's defense limited the 76ers' scoring opportunities throughout the night.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • The Celtics and 76ers split their four-game regular season series 2-2.

The players

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star forward had a dominant performance, recording 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead his team to victory.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' All-Star center missed the game due to injury, leaving his team without its defensive anchor against the Celtics' potent offense.

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What they’re saying

“Jaylen was phenomenal tonight. He set the tone early and carried us to a big win. This is the kind of performance we need from him if we want to make a deep playoff run.”

— Ime Udoka, Celtics Head Coach

“Without Joel, it's tough for us to match up with a team as talented as the Celtics. We'll need to regroup and find a way to slow down Jaylen and the rest of their offense if we want to even this series.”

— Doc Rivers, 76ers Head Coach

What’s next

Game 2 of the series will be played on Tuesday, April 21 at TD Garden in Boston. The 76ers will look to even the series, while the Celtics aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

The takeaway

Jaylen Brown's dominant performance in Game 1 showcased his status as one of the NBA's elite two-way players and a driving force behind the Celtics' championship aspirations. The 76ers' struggles without Joel Embiid highlighted their reliance on their star center, and they'll need to find a way to slow down Brown and the Celtics' offense if they hope to even the series.