Celtics Host Sixers in Playoff Opener at TD Garden

Boston looks to continue playoff dominance over Philadelphia in Game 1 of first-round series

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:53pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, with the players and court broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant green, blue, and red colors.The Celtics and 76ers renew their historic playoff rivalry, with Boston seeking to continue its recent dominance over its longtime foe.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics begin their quest for an NBA championship as they host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at TD Garden. The Celtics earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 56-26 record, while the 76ers clinched the No. 7 seed at 45-37 after winning their play-in tournament matchup. Boston has won the last six playoff meetings between these storied rivals, including a thrilling seven-game series in the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Why it matters

This opening-round playoff matchup between the Celtics and 76ers renews one of the NBA's most historic rivalries. The winner will advance to face either the Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston is seeking its 19th NBA championship, while Philadelphia hopes to end its title drought that dates back to 1983.

The details

The Celtics will be led by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who have helped the team go 13-3 since Tatum's return from an Achilles injury. The 76ers will be without star center Joel Embiid, who is still recovering from a recent appendectomy surgery. Otherwise, both teams are relatively healthy heading into the series opener.

  • The game tips off at 12:00 PM ET on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston.
  • Coverage begins on NBC Sports Boston at 12:00 PM ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

The players

Jayson Tatum

All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics who has led the team's resurgence since returning from injury.

Jaylen Brown

All-Star guard for the Boston Celtics and Tatum's co-star, forming one of the NBA's most dynamic duos.

Joel Embiid

Star center for the Philadelphia 76ers who will miss Game 1 as he continues to recover from a recent appendectomy surgery.

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What they’re saying

“We've had some great battles with the Sixers over the years, and I expect this series to be no different. Our guys are ready for the challenge.”

— Ime Udoka, Head Coach, Boston Celtics

“Even without Joel, we believe we have the pieces to compete with the Celtics. This is a new season, and we're ready to make our mark.”

— Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Philadelphia 76ers

What’s next

If the Celtics win Game 1, they will host the 76ers for Game 2 on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 PM ET. If the 76ers win Game 1, the series will shift to Philadelphia for Game 2 on the same date and time.

The takeaway

This first-round playoff matchup between the Celtics and 76ers renews one of the NBA's most storied rivalries. Boston will look to continue its recent playoff dominance over Philadelphia, while the 76ers hope to pull off the upset without their star center Joel Embiid. The winner of this series will advance to face either the Bucks or Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, putting them one step closer to an NBA championship.