Sixers Embrace Underdog Role, Vow to 'Play Like Hell' Against Celtics

Shorthanded Sixers face steep challenge against second-seeded Celtics in first-round playoff series

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A dynamic, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a heated basketball playoff game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, with overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The intense playoff battle between the underdog Sixers and the favored Celtics promises to be a hard-fought, high-energy clash of Eastern Conference rivals.Philadelphia Today

The shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers will begin their first-round playoff series against the second-seeded Boston Celtics on Sunday, with star center Joel Embiid sidelined for at least Game 1 due to an appendectomy. While the Sixers are significant underdogs, head coach Nick Nurse and players like Paul George and Dominick Barlow say the team is not backing down and is determined to 'play like hell' to have a chance at the upset.

Why it matters

This is the first Sixers-Celtics playoff matchup since 2023, when the Sixers failed to close out the series at home. The Celtics have emerged as a top contender in the East, while the Sixers are looking to prove they can compete with the conference's elite despite key injuries.

The details

The Celtics (56-26) had a dominant regular season, ranking in the NBA's top five in both offensive and defensive rating. They are led by All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown and can lean on extensive playoff experience from their Tatum-Brown core. The Sixers, meanwhile, struggled with rebounding against the Celtics in the regular season, an area they must improve to have a chance. The return of Paul George, who missed the regular-season matchups, could provide a boost for the Sixers' offense and defense.

  • The Sixers-Celtics first-round series begins on Sunday, April 20, 2026.
  • Sixers star Joel Embiid will miss at least Game 1 due to an appendectomy.

The players

Nick Nurse

Head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Paul George

Veteran forward for the Philadelphia 76ers who missed the regular-season matchups against the Celtics due to injury and suspension.

Dominick Barlow

Forward for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jaylen Brown

All-NBA wing for the Boston Celtics who emerged as a top offensive option this season.

Joe Mazzulla

Head coach of the Boston Celtics, who is a frontrunner for NBA Coach of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“'If we play really well and play our backsides off, then we should have a chance to do some stuff. We've got to do the best we can to put a great game plan together. We've got to get our guys locked in to go out there and execute it. And then we've got to play like hell. We've got to go out there and play as hard as we absolutely can.'”

— Nick Nurse, Head Coach, Philadelphia 76ers

“'They're hard to guard, man. They've got an incredible offense. They shoot a ton of threes. They've got a bunch of guys that can take you [off the dribble]. … It's a tremendous challenge.'”

— Nick Nurse, Head Coach, Philadelphia 76ers

“'The last game we played against them, we lost because we didn't rebound. I think that's going to be the game.'”

— Dominick Barlow, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers

“'We're not going to back down. They're not going to back down.'”

— Paul George, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This series highlights the Sixers' determination to compete against the conference's elite despite key injuries, as they look to avenge their 2023 playoff loss to the Celtics and prove they can hang with the East's top teams.