The Boston Celtics finished the regular season 56-26 and earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They have known since Sunday that they would open the playoffs at home on April 19. The opponent remained a mystery until Wednesday night.
Now it is official.
The Philadelphia 76ers locked up the seventh seed with a 109-97 win over the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament. Tyrese Maxey led the way with 31 points. V.J. Edgecombe finished with 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Philadelphia advances. Boston waits no longer.
The Series Begins Sunday
Game 1 tips off Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. EST at TD Garden on ABC.
Game 2 follows Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at TD Garden on Peacock.
The series then shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Game 5 returns to Boston on April 28 if necessary. Game 6 would be April 30 in Philadelphia. And then Game 7 would be played on May 2 at TD Garden.
The Celtics hold home-court advantage throughout. They also enter the postseason with nearly a week of rest after Joe Mazzulla sat his starters for the regular season finale against the Magic.
GettyBOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket while guarded by VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on October 22, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
How the Celtics Match Up
The Celtics and 76ers split their four regular season meetings at 2-2.
Boston finished with the league’s second-best offense and fourth-best defense, posting the fourth-best net rating in the NBA. Philadelphia came in at 17th in defensive rating, 16th in offensive rating, and 18th in net rating.
None of those four games featured Jayson Tatum in the Celtics lineup. His Achilles return came after the season series had already concluded. Tatum has averaged over 21 points per game across his time back.
GettyBOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics after the game at TD Garden on October 22, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The Embiid Factor
The biggest question heading into the series involves Joel Embiid. The 76ers center had an emergency appendectomy last week. The team has not provided a return date. He was back with the team on Wednesday and watched the Play-In win from the bench, but his availability for Game 1 remains unclear.
Philadelphia weathered long stretches of the regular season without him and still managed 45 wins. Paul George served a 25-game suspension. Multiple rotation players missed significant time.
If Embiid misses the series, Boston’s path gets easier. If he plays, Philadelphia gains a low-post presence that changes how the Celtics defend.
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Celtics
The Celtics got the matchup they were preparing for. A team they have beaten in 15 of 22 postseason meetings.
The 76ers come to TD Garden on Sunday.
The Celtics will be ready.
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