The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round series. Boston enters the postseason as the heavy favorite to return to the Finals, while the 76ers look to pull off one of the greatest upsets in playoff history. Philadelphia is coming on the back of a late-season injury crisis and the Play-In Tournament.
Boston enters the postseason as the #2 seed (55–27). The Celtics have been an absolute beast at home. They boast a 35–6 record at TD Garden. They are led by Jaylen Brown, who finished the regular season averaging a career-high 28.7 PPG, and Jayson Tatum. Nikola Vučević has provided elite spacing and rebounding since arriving mid-season. As the league’s top-ranked three-point shooting team, the Celtics aim to use their perimeter depth to overwhelm a depleted Philly rotation.
The 76ers arrive as the #7 seed (45–37) after a Play-In victory over the Magic. Philadelphia’s postseason hopes have been dealt a massive blow with the continued absence of its Big Three. However, rookie VJ Edgecombe has emerged as a legitimate star, averaging 21.4 PPG in the final month of the season. He is supported by Kyle Lowry. The 76ers aim to slow the pace and turn Game 1 in their favor.
76ers vs. Celtics: Live Streaming And Game Info
- Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
- Time: 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT)
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- TV Broadcast (National): ABC
- Live Streaming: NBA League Pass, Fubo (Free Trial available)
Where to watch 76ers vs. Celtics For Free?
Fans can watch 76ers vs. Celtics on NBA League Pass, Amazon Prime (an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial), or catch it for free here.
Where To Watch 76ers vs. Celtics Across The Globe?
United States
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
- Channel: ABC, NBA League Pass
Canada
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TSN or Sportsnet
United Kingdom
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 6:00 PM GMT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TNT Sports
Australia
- Date/Time: April 20, 2026, 3:00 AM AEST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN
Germany
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 7:00 PM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, DAZN
France
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 7:00 PM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, beIn Sports
Spain
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 7:00 PM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Movistar+
Italy
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 7:00 PM CET
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Sky Italia
India
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 10:30 PM IST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Amazon Prime Video
Brazil
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 2:00 PM BRT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN, Prime Video
Mexico
- Date/Time: April 19, 2026, 11:00 AM CST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, ESPN, Star+
Japan
- Date/Time: April 20, 2026, 2:00 AM JST
- Channel: NBA League Pass, Rakuten TV
Philippines
- Date/Time: April 20, 2026, 1:00 AM PHT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, TV5, NBA TV Philippines
Singapore
- Date/Time: April 20, 2026, 1:00 AM SGT
- Channel: NBA League Pass, StarHub, or Singtel
Projected Starting Lineups
| Position | Philadelphia 76ers | Boston Celtics |
| PG | Kyle Lowry | Derrick White |
| SG | Quentin Grimes | Jaylen Brown |
| SF | VJ Edgecombe | Jayson Tatum |
| PF | Trendon Watford | Sam Hauser |
| C | Andre Drummond | Nikola Vučević |
Injury Report
Philadelphia 76ers
- Joel Embiid (C): OUT (Post-appendectomy surgery recovery)
- Tyrese Maxey (PG): OUT (Pinkie tendon injury)
- Paul George (SF): OUT (Right knee injury management)
- Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF): OUT (Right elbow injury)
Boston Celtics
- Nikola Vučević (C): PROBABLE (Returning from minor finger soreness)
- Al Horford (PF): AVAILABLE (No injury designation; bench rotation)
- Payton Pritchard (PG): AVAILABLE (Cleared after illness)
76ers vs. Celtics Head to Head
The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers were tied 2-2 in 2025–26 regular-season series. Historically, the Celtics lead the all-time regular-season series 275–200 and have won the last six playoff series between the two rivals. They also lead the all-time playoff series 66-50.
Celtics vs. 76ers Prediction
The talent gap in this matchup is currently massive due to Philadelphia’s injuries. While VJ Edgecombe will likely put up a show, the Celtics have too many elite defensive options to throw at the rookie. Boston’s spacing with Vučević and Brown should force Andre Drummond out of the paint, leading to a high-scoring victory for the home team.
Score Prediction: Celtics 124 – 76ers 102
