Celtics and 76ers Primed for Playoff Clash

Boston and Philadelphia set to renew Eastern Conference rivalry in first-round series

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:14pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant green, blue, and red colors.The intense rivalry between the Celtics and 76ers is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration that reflects the high-stakes nature of their first-round playoff matchup.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics will host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday afternoon. The Celtics are led by Jayson Tatum, who is returning from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for nearly 10 months, while the 76ers will be without star center Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from an appendectomy.

Why it matters

This matchup between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams is highly anticipated, as the Celtics and 76ers have developed a fierce rivalry in recent years. The winner of this series will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, putting them one step closer to an NBA championship.

The details

The Celtics, who earned the No. 2 seed in the East, have been led in Tatum's absence by Jaylen Brown, who has put up career-best numbers in points, rebounds, and assists. Tatum, a six-time All-Star, is eager to return to the court and help the Celtics make a deep playoff run after their title defense was cut short last year. The 76ers, meanwhile, will be without Embiid, their star center, as he continues to recover from an appendectomy performed earlier this month.

  • The Celtics and 76ers will tip off Game 1 on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1 p.m.
  • Tatum has been out for nearly 10 months after rupturing his Achilles tendon in last year's playoffs.

The players

Jayson Tatum

A six-time NBA All-Star and one of the centerpieces of the Celtics' recent playoff runs. Tatum is returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon that sidelined him for nearly 10 months.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star player in Tatum's absence, Brown has put up career-best numbers in points, rebounds, and assists this season.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' star center, who is still recovering from an appendectomy performed on April 9 and will miss the start of the playoff series.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think more of a sense of gratitude than ever. Not that I took it for granted. But when something is taken away from you, it just means a little bit more.”

— Jayson Tatum, Celtics Player

“We've just got to take it one day at a time, don't take anything for granted and just come out ready to go every single night.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Player

What’s next

The winner of the Celtics-76ers series will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will face the winner of the other first-round matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated first-round playoff series between the Celtics and 76ers features two of the Eastern Conference's top teams and will be a true test of their championship aspirations. The return of Jayson Tatum and the continued strong play of Jaylen Brown give the Celtics a formidable duo, while the 76ers will have to find a way to win without their star center Joel Embiid in the early part of the series.