Sixers and Celtics Rivalry Heats Up in Playoffs

Longtime Eastern Conference foes meet again in postseason battle

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:45pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the teams' respective colors.The long-standing rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics will be renewed in an intense first-round playoff matchup.Philadelphia Today

The Philadelphia 76ers have returned to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence, securing the 7th seed by defeating the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament. This sets up a highly anticipated first-round matchup between the Sixers and their longtime Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics.

Why it matters

The Sixers-Celtics rivalry is one of the most storied in the NBA, with the two teams meeting in the playoffs numerous times over the decades. Their latest postseason clash is sure to be a hard-fought and emotional series as both teams look to advance and make a deep run in the playoffs.

The details

The Sixers and Celtics have met in the playoffs 21 times, with the Celtics holding a 13-8 advantage. Their most recent playoff meeting was in 2024, when the Celtics defeated the Sixers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Both teams are led by All-Star caliber players, with the Sixers featuring Joel Embiid and James Harden, while the Celtics are led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

  • The Sixers secured the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs by defeating the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament on April 12, 2026.
  • The Sixers and Celtics will begin their first-round playoff series on April 15, 2026.

The players

Joel Embiid

All-Star center for the Philadelphia 76ers.

James Harden

All-Star guard for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jayson Tatum

All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics.

Jaylen Brown

All-Star guard for the Boston Celtics.

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What they’re saying

“This is the kind of matchup that basketball fans live for. The Sixers and Celtics have a long and storied rivalry, and this playoff series is sure to be an epic battle.”

— Charles Barkley, NBA Analyst

“We're excited for the challenge of facing the Celtics. It's going to be a tough series, but we're confident in our ability to compete and come out on top.”

— Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Center

What’s next

The Sixers and Celtics will tip off their first-round playoff series on April 15, 2026. Game 2 is scheduled for April 17, with the series shifting to Boston for Games 3 and 4 on April 20 and 22.

The takeaway

The Sixers-Celtics rivalry is one of the most storied in the NBA, and their latest playoff matchup is sure to be a hard-fought and emotional series. Both teams are led by All-Star talent and are hungry to advance deep into the playoffs, setting the stage for an epic clash between these two Eastern Conference powerhouses.