Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET
Venue: TD Garden — Boston, MA
This is Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round, marking the 23rd playoff series between these franchises — the most in NBA history.
Injury Report
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid — OUT (post‑appendectomy recovery; earliest return April 24)
Boston Celtics
No injuries reported for Game 1.
Team Records & Recent Form
Philadelphia 76ers (45–37, 7‑seed)
Last 5: W, W, W, L, L
Clinched playoff berth via 109–97 Play‑In win vs. Orlando; Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points.
Season Ratings: 16th in offense, 17th in defense.
Season Averages: 115.9 PPG, 46% FG, 43.6 RPG, 24.6 APG.
Boston Celtics (56–26, 2‑seed)
Last 5: W, W, L, W, W
Season Ratings: #2 offense, #4 defense; attempt 42.1 threes per game (4th‑most NBA).
Season Averages: 114.9 PPG, 47% FG, 46.4 RPG, 24.6 APG.
Regular‑Season Series History
The teams split 2–2 in the 2025–26 regular season:
76ers 117–116 (Oct 22, Boston)
Celtics 109–108 (Oct 31, Philadelphia)
76ers 102–100 (Nov 11, Philadelphia)
Celtics 114–98 (Mar 1, Boston)
Notably, Paul George (PHI) and Jayson Tatum (BOS) did not appear in any of the four regular‑season meetings. Both are active for this playoff series.
Key Player Matchups
Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey: 28.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 46.2% FG, 89.2% FT.
Paul George: 21.0 PPG, 41.5% from three over last 10 games.
Andre Drummond: 8.4 RPG.
Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown: 28.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.1 APG.
Jayson Tatum: 21.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.3 APG since returning from Achilles injury.
Neemias Queta: 8.4 RPG; had 27 points & 17 rebounds in last meeting.
Game Odds
Philadelphia Sixers 213.5
Boston Celtics – 12.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 18, 2026
