Celtics and 76ers Set for Playoff Clash with Stars Healthy

Jayson Tatum and Paul George return as teams meet in first round for first time this season

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:33pm

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The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics will host the No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, with both teams finally at full strength. Celtics star Jayson Tatum and 76ers forward Paul George missed earlier matchups this season, but are now back in the lineup. However, the 76ers' Joel Embiid remains sidelined after an appendectomy late in the regular season.

Why it matters

This first-round playoff series between the Celtics and 76ers features two of the Eastern Conference's top teams, but they haven't met with their full rosters this season. The return of Tatum and George adds star power and intrigue to the matchup, though the 76ers' status with Embiid remains uncertain.

The details

The Celtics and 76ers played four times in the regular season, but all of those games came before mid-November when Tatum and George were out with injuries. Tatum has averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 16 games since returning, while George has put up 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 10 games since his suspension. The 76ers secured the No. 7 seed with a play-in tournament win, led by Tyrese Maxey's 31 points. However, Embiid's status remains unclear after he had an appendectomy late in the regular season.

  • The Celtics and 76ers will tip off Game 1 on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1 p.m. ET.
  • The Celtics wrapped up the regular season with a 113-108 win over the Magic on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 16 games after returning from injury.

Paul George

The 76ers' veteran forward has averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 10 games since returning from suspension.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' star center averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game this season, but had an appendectomy late in the regular season and his status for the playoffs is uncertain.

Tyrese Maxey

The 76ers' leading scorer at 28.3 points per game, Maxey scored 31 points in the team's play-in tournament win to secure the No. 7 seed.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star guard averaged a team-high 28.7 points per game in the regular season.

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What they’re saying

“I remember when I got injured, there was a lot of uncertainty. The playoffs weren't a sure thing, and now that I get that opportunity, I couldn't be more happy.”

— Jayson Tatum

“I've had my share of playing Boston with Jayson and Jaylen, so I know what to expect. We're playing against winners; we're playing against champions. This is where they play their best basketball. We respect that. But we're going to have to challenge that. They've been great for a couple years now. They're a well-oiled machine over there. Great coach. Great roster. Two studs, superstars over there.”

— Paul George

What’s next

The status of Joel Embiid's return from his appendectomy will be a key storyline to watch as the series progresses.

The takeaway

This first-round playoff matchup between the Celtics and 76ers features two of the Eastern Conference's top teams finally at full strength, setting up an intriguing clash of star power and championship pedigree.