Sixers and Celtics Renew Playoff Rivalry

Sixers look to upset the defending champions in first-round matchup

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:09am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Sixers and Celtics, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the teams' vibrant colors, conveying the intensity and competitiveness of the playoff matchup.The Sixers and Celtics renew their heated playoff rivalry, with Boston the favorites but Philadelphia hoping to pull off the upset.Philadelphia Today

The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics will meet in the NBA playoffs for the fourth time in the last six seasons, with the Celtics entering as the heavy favorites. The Sixers will need big performances from players like Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to pull off the upset, especially with the status of star center Joel Embiid uncertain due to a recent appendectomy.

Why it matters

This matchup between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams has become a postseason tradition, with the Celtics holding a 3-0 series edge over the Sixers since 2018. The Sixers are seeking their first playoff series win over the Celtics since 1982, while Boston is looking to defend its 2023-24 NBA championship.

The details

The Celtics have been one of the NBA's elite teams all season, ranking second in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating since their slow 5-7 start. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to find consistency without the injured Embiid, going just 21-23 in games he has missed. However, the Sixers did split the regular-season series with the Celtics, with Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combining for 74 points in an opening-night win in Boston.

  • The Sixers-Celtics series begins on Sunday, April 16 in Boston.
  • The Celtics added star forward Jayson Tatum in mid-season after he returned from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The players

Jayson Tatum

A six-time NBA All-Star, Tatum has been a dominant two-way force for the Celtics since returning from injury.

Tyrese Maxey

The Sixers' young star guard will be tasked with leading the offense with Embiid sidelined, and will look to replicate his strong regular-season performances against the Celtics.

Paul George

The veteran forward will need to provide scoring, defense, and veteran leadership for the Sixers to have a chance of upsetting the defending champions.

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What they’re saying

“We're playing against winners. We're playing against champions. This is where they play their best basketball. We respect that. We're going to have to challenge that.”

— Paul George, Sixers Forward

“I told the guys I'm proud of them. There's many times this season I've told them I'm proud of them for how they kind of picked themselves up and kept playing.”

— Nick Nurse, Sixers Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in Embiid's appendectomy case will decide on Tuesday whether he can return for the start of the series.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Sixers and Celtics is a clash of two of the Eastern Conference's top teams, with the defending champions favored but the Sixers hoping to pull off the upset behind strong performances from their supporting cast.