The Boston Celtics continued their postseason dominance of the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, crushing them 123-91 in Game 1 at TD Garden.
This is nothing new for the Celtics, who are 15-7 in previous playoff series against the 76ers. Philadelphia hasn't beaten Boston in a postseason series since 1982, with the Celtics winning their last six playoff series.
Given that history, Boston legend Paul Pierce wasn't surprised by Sunday's lopsided series opener.
Paul Pierce says he was impressed with the Celtics win over the Sixers, but it’s Philly the Celtics haven’t lost a playoff series to them since 1982:
“Like, seriously we haven’t lost to them. The last time they beat us in the playoffs was 82. Like, a lot of people who are… pic.twitter.com/q3Fd2xub2S
"Like, seriously, we haven’t lost to them. The last time they beat us in the playoffs was '82. Like, a lot of people who are watching this show wasn’t even born. I was five years old," Pierce said on "No Fouls Given." "When I saw Sixers vs Celtics, I was like, I usually go to the Celtics first round, I don’t even want to waste that trip. I really didn’t want to waste that trip because I know, I know."
Pierce has seen this movie before, and he knows how it ends. No wonder he's not excited about this series.
The Hall of Famer contributed to the Celtics' sustained playoff success against the Sixers, helping Boston beat them in both of his postseason series against them in 2002 and 2012.
Based on how Game 1 went, it seems like this series will have the same outcome.
Over the past five seasons, the NBA has showcased a compelling blend of dynastic resilience, breakthrough contenders, and meticulously constructed rosters. As highlighted by Fox Sports, the veteran brilliance of the Golden State Warriors to the emergence of the Oklahoma City Thunder, this stretch captures a league in transition. Each champion reflects a distinct blueprint for success. Milwaukee leaned on overwhelming physical dominance and superstar force. Denver mastered offensive fluidity through generational playmaking, and Boston engineered one of the most balanced two-way rosters in recent memory.
What stands out most is the diversity in team-building philosophies. The Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets relied heavily on continuity and internal development, while the Boston Celtics strategically retooled with high-impact acquisitions. Meanwhile, Golden State reaffirmed the enduring value of chemistry and institutional identity, proving that a well-established system can still thrive in a rapidly evolving league. Oklahoma City’s rise, on the other hand, represents the modern model—patient asset accumulation transformed into a cohesive, explosive contender.
Now, as the NBA enters its current playoff stage, the narrative remains unfinished. The question looming over this postseason is whether the next champion will emerge from this recent group of title winners or if a new contender will break through and reshape the hierarchy once again. In a league defined by constant evolution, the answer will add yet another chapter to this already dynamic era.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder — 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder team owner Clay Bennett and the team hold up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after being announced NBA Champions at the end of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2025 championship marked the culmination of one of the most successful rebuilds in modern NBA history. Led by MVP-caliber guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team paired elite shot creation and late-game execution. Emerging stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams provided versatility on both ends, anchoring a defense that could switch and protect the rim. By the Finals, Oklahoma City’s blend of youth, depth, and star power made them the league’s most complete and adaptable team.
2. Boston Celtics — 2024
The Boston Celtics celebrates after beating the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals to the NBA Championship at TD Garden. Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
The Celtics’ 2024 title reinforced their status as one of the league’s premier franchises. Driven by the leadership of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, their two-way excellence set the tone. Key additions like Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday elevated both spacing and perimeter defense. Boston’s playoff run highlighted their ability to control tempo and execute under pressure, with contributions coming from a deep and disciplined rotation. The championship ultimately validated a core that had grown through years.
3. Denver Nuggets — 2023
The Denver Nuggets celebrate after winning the 2023 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Denver’s 2023 championship run was orchestrated by the brilliance of Nikola Jokić, whose playmaking and efficiency redefined the center position. Alongside him, Jamal Murray delivered clutch scoring, forming one of the league’s most potent duos. The supporting cast—featuring Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon—provided spacing, athleticism, and defensive balance. Their cohesion and unselfish style overwhelmed opponents, that showcased one of the most fluid offenses in recent memory.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with the MVP trophy after the Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in game six of the 2022 NBA Finals to win the NBA Championship at TD Garden. Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors’ 2022 championship was powered by Stephen Curry, whose Finals performance earned him his first Finals MVP. Veteran leaders Klay Thompson and Draymond Green added to the core, combining shooting, defense, and basketball IQ. Contributors like Andrew Wiggins played a crucial two-way role, particularly in the Finals. The blend of championship experience and timely contributions allowed Golden State to reclaim its place.
5. Milwaukee Bucks — 2021
Milwaukee Bucks players celebrate after winning the NBA Championship following game six of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee’s 2021 championship was defined by the dominance of Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose historic Finals performance cemented his legacy. He was supported by the shot-making of Khris Middleton and the steady playmaking of Jrue Holiday. The Bucks combined physical defense with efficient offense, overwhelming opponents with their size and intensity. Their victory not only ended a 50-year championship drought, it also validated a roster built on trust.
Conclusion
A general view of the TD Garden after the Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at the TD Garden. Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA’s last five champions underscore a league defined by stylistic diversity and strategic innovation. As the current playoffs unfold, the possibility remains that this exclusive list could soon expand—or be reinforced by a familiar powerhouse. Either way, the next champion will continue to reflect the league’s ever-shifting balance between legacy, talent, and opportunity.
Derrick White expects Joe Mazzulla to receive a major recognition.
The NBA named Mazzulla one of three finalists for the Coach of the Year award. He's alongside J.B. Bickerstaff and Mitch Johnson after leading the Boston Celtics to 56 wins in what many considered a gap year.
Mazzulla has made it clear he's not interested in the accolade, but White thinks his coach will win. The Celtics guard indicated little doubt over the Coach of the Year outcome when discussing why Mazzulla disdains individual awards, per WEEI's Justin Turpin.
“He doesn't like the attention on him and making it about himself," White said on Monday. "But, obviously, he has done an amazing job this year, and when he wins it, it’ll be well deserved."
White notably said "when" rather than "if." While he likely is speculating rather than spoiling, early indicators suggest White could be right.
Max Croes has tracked all publicly released NBA awards ballots. Mazzulla has received 18 of 25 confirmed first-place votes for Coach of the Year.
That news probably doesn't matter to Mazzulla, who has previously called Coach of the Year a "stupid award." He expanded on the stance Monday, via Celtics Blog's Noa Dalzell.
"I haven't made one basket all year," Mazzulla said. "Our staff hasn't made a basket. We haven't gotten a block. We haven't ran back on defense. We didn't play in a back-to-back. We didn't have to play hurt. We haven't really done (expletive).
"So, if you don't have the guys to be able to put you in position, it doesn't really matter. I’m just grateful – the greatest gift I have is I get to coach a bunch of guys that care about winning and being a part of the culture that we have."
Some famous sports quotes stick around because they sound good. This one stuck because it felt true in real time.
On April 20, 1986, Michael Jordan walked into Boston Garden for Game 2 of a first-round playoff series and lit up one of the best teams ever assembled. After the game, Larry Bird delivered the line that would live forever, saying it was “God disguised as Michael Jordan.” It was not empty praise, and it was not just Bird being dramatic. Jordan had just scored 63 points against a 67-win Celtics team that would go on to win the NBA championship.
What makes the moment even better is the context. Jordan was only in his second NBA season, and that year had nearly been wrecked by injury. He played just 18 regular-season games after breaking a small bone in his foot early in the season, yet still returned in time to lead a 30-52 Bulls team into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. On the other side was Boston, the East’s top seed and a team many still consider one of the greatest in league history.
What happened in the game that made Bird say it?
Jordan did not just get hot for a quarter. He spent the entire night torturing Boston.
He finished with 63 points in a 135-131 double-overtime loss, shooting 22-for-41 from the field and 19-for-21 from the free-throw line. He also added six assists and five rebounds, and he did it in 53 exhausting minutes. At the time, those 63 points broke Elgin Baylor’s single-game NBA playoff scoring record, and that record still stands.
The crazy part is that Jordan was not doing this against some average defense in a random April game. He was doing it against Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and a veteran Celtics team that knew exactly how to turn playoff games into street fights in sneakers. Boston still needed 36 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists from Bird just to survive. The Bulls pushed the game deep into overtime, and Jordan kept answering every big Celtics moment with another bucket, another drive or another trip to the line.
Bird’s comment makes more sense when you remember that Jordan had already put 49 on Boston in Game 1. So from the Celtics’ point of view, this was not one random eruption. It was two straight playoff games where a 23-year-old guard looked like the best athlete and toughest shot-maker on the floor against the league’s measuring-stick team. Bird was basically admitting that Boston had thrown everything at him and none of it mattered.
Why the quote changed how people looked at Michael Jordan
Jordan was already a star before that night. After that game, he felt inevitable.
That is the real reason the quote has lasted. When an all-time great like Bird says something like that, people listen differently. It was one thing for fans in Chicago to believe Jordan was special. It was another for the best player on the best team in the league to sound almost stunned by him. In hindsight, Bird’s line became one of the earliest public stamps of approval on Jordan’s future greatness. That is an inference, but it is backed by how often the game and quote are still revisited in NBA history and retrospectives about Jordan’s rise.
It also helped shape the way Jordan was remembered in defeat. Normally, a first-round loss gets filed away pretty quickly. This one did not. The Bulls were swept, yet the series is still part of Jordan mythology because Game 2 made clear that championships were probably coming eventually. He had not built the full legend yet, but the outline was there — the scoring bursts, the fear factor, the sense that even elite opponents were just trying to hold on.
The Celtics still got the last word that season
As unforgettable as Jordan’s performance was, Bird and the Celtics finished the job the way champions do.
Boston completed the sweep of Chicago, rolled through the Eastern Conference and went on to beat the Houston Rockets in six games to win the 1986 NBA title. The Celtics finished that season as champions, with Bird also taking Finals MVP. That ending matters to the story because it reminds you just how high the bar was. Jordan did not drop 63 on a good team that flamed out later. He did it against the eventual champs.
That is why the anniversary of Bird’s quote still resonates. It captures two truths at once. Boston was the team of that season, and Jordan was the player of the future. The Celtics raised the banner, but Bird’s line helped announce that the league’s next defining superstar had already arrived.
The Celtics began their NBA playoffs on Sunday with a commanding 123-91 victory over the 76ers, prompting Boston fans to take the opportunity to troll Philadelphia.
Late in the fourth quarter, Celtics fans began chanting "We want Boston" in response to what 76ers fans were doing on Wednesday night.
76ers fans were chanting "We want Boston" during their play-in game victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The winner of that game secured the seventh seed in the playoffs and faced the Celtics.
Get your “We Want Boston” chants in now and Tuesday, because you’re not going to using your Game 5 tickets. pic.twitter.com/Wyth6dXsWT
It's safe to say that 76ers fans might regret saying they wanted to face the Celtics after what Boston did to Philadelphia in Game 1.
The Celtics seized control of the game right from the tip-off, and without their center, Joel Embiid, the 76ers may struggle to secure a victory. Embiid underwent an appendectomy on April 9th and has not appeared in a game since his surgery. There is currently no timetable for when Embiid will return to the 76ers. If he doesn't come back within the next week, this series could end up having only three more games left to play.
The Boston Celtics officially began their 63rd appearance in an NBA playoffs on Sunday, routing the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-91, at TD Garden in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
The Celtics never trailed on Sunday afternoon and led by as many as 35 points.
Boston made franchise history with the win as well.
"The Celtics dominate the 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 🍀 It was Boston's largest margin of victory in a playoff opener ever. How many games will this series go?" The Athletic posted on Bluesky.
Jayson Tatum had a successful return to the playoffs, 11 months after suffering a torn Achilles in the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.
Tatum finished with 25 points (including 21 in the first half), a game-high 11 rebounds and team-high seven assists.
Jayson Tatum moved ahead of his idol during a sensational start to the 2025-26 postseason.
Less than a year removed from his devastating Achilles tear, Tatum steered the Boston Celtics to a 123-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The star forward continued an expedited return to peak form by registering 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to open the first-round playoff series.
In the second quarter, Tatum extended Boston's lead to 23 by making his only three-pointer of the game. With that bucket, the NBA noted that Tatum passed Kobe Bryant for 11th on the all-time leaderboard in playoff threes.
TATUM PASSES KOBE 👏
With this three, Jayson Tatum passes Kobe Bryant for 11th on the all-time playoff 3-POINTERS MADE list! pic.twitter.com/0tV3Cf6oW8
Tatum broke a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers legend by draining his 293rd career postseason triple. He's now one behind matching J.R. Smith for 10th and 22 behind Danny Green, but Stephen Curry laps the field at 650.
That wasn't the only impressive milestone Tatum reached on Sunday. Taylor Snow noted that Tatum became the seventh player in Celtics history to secure 1,000 career postseason rebounds.
According to StatMuse, Tatum has the fifth-most playoff games with at least 25 points among Eastern Conference players behind LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Dwyane Wade.
After the game, Tatum told ESPN's Jorge Sedano that it was an "incredible feeling" to play postseason basketball after not knowing if he would return at all this season.
Today was probably the most excited and relaxed and grateful I've been in my nine years of being in the playoffs," Tatum said. "I'm just super happy to be able to be out here and play."
The Celtics will begin their quest for a 19th NBA championship when they face the 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round series.
By clinching the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed well before the end of the regular season, Boston secured home-court advantage and was able to rest key players down the stretch. Philadelphia, meanwhile, had to fight its way out of the Play-In Tournament in order to clinch a postseason berth.
The Celtics will certainly have an overall talent advantage in the series opener, as Sixers star Joel Embiid is listed as out on the team's injury report. The former NBA MVP underwent surgery on April 9 after being diagnosed with appendicitis, and he is still recovering.
Still, Boston cannot overlook a Philadelphia squad led by All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who averaged a career-high 28.3 points per game during the regular season.
Follow along right here for live updates from Game 1 between the Celtics and 76ers.
Celtics vs. 76ers score
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Celtics vs. 76ers live updates, highlights from Game 1
(All times Eastern)
3:20 p.m. — The Celtics and 76ers have pulled most of their starters out of the game with six minutes left.
3:10 p.m. — Jayson Tatum drives to the rim for an easy layup, extending the Celtics' lead to 30 points with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
End of third quarter: Celtics 95, 76ers 71
3:05 p.m. — Jaylen Brown scores 16 points in the third quarter, and the Celtics hold a 24-point lead.
3 p.m. — The Celtics have crushed the 76ers in the 3-point battle. Boston has made 11 3-pointers in Game 1, while Philadelphia has just three 3-point field goals.
2:50 p.m. — After the 76ers attempt to cut down the deficit, Jaylen Brown and Nikola Vucevic respond with back-to-back 3-pointers. Celtics 79, 76ers 58 with six minutes left in the third quarter.
2:40 p.m. — Neemias Queta rolls to the rim and throws down a two-handed dunk to start the second half, but he quickly picks up his fourth foul on a Paul George drive. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla sends out Nikola Vucevic, and Queta heads to the bench.
Halftime: Celtics 64, 76ers 46
2:20 p.m. — A dominant first half for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum has 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 19 minutes.
2:05 p.m. — The Sixers are struggling offensively — and that's putting it lightly. They are shooting under 30 percent from the field and have connected on just two of their 15 3-point attempts.
1:55 p.m. — Andre Drummond gets hit with a technical foul after arguing a goaltending call, and Payton Pritchard sinks the free throw to push the Celtics' lead to 20 points.
1:50 p.m. — Now the Celtics will have to monitor the foul situation. Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta and Nikola Vucevic each have two fouls early in the second quarter.
End of first quarter: Celtics 33, 76ers 18
1:40 p.m. — What a quarter for Jayson Tatum and the Celtics. Boston walks to the bench with a 15-point lead. Tatum has 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
1:30 p.m. — The 76ers are already dealing with foul trouble. Adem Bona and Andre Drummond each have two fouls with four minutes left in the first quarter.
1:20 p.m. — A fadeaway jumper from Jaylen Brown and transition layup from Jayson Tatum give the Celtics an early 15-7 lead. Sixers coach Nick Nurse feels a big run coming, so he calls a timeout.
76ers: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Adem Bona
12:30 p.m. — The Celtics have a clean injury report ahead of Game 1, but the 76ers will be missing a huge piece of their starting lineup. Joel Embiid remains out after undergoing surgery for appendicitis on April 9.
12:15 p.m. — It will be a whiteout for Game 1 in Boston.
Celtics vs. 76ers will air on ABC. The game will also be available to stream on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus "SportsCenter," "First Take" and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.
Celtics vs. 76ers Game 1 start time
Date: Sunday April 19
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Celtics vs. 76ers is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19. The game will be played at the TD Garden in Boston.
As the Celtics and 76ers prepare to add another chapter to their rivalry, one question is hanging over the first-round series: Will Joel Embiid be available for Philadelphia?
The former NBA MVP remains sidelined after he was diagnosed with appendicitis on April 9. He underwent emergency surgery in Houston before a road game against the Rockets, and he missed the final three games of the regular season as well as the 76ers' win over the Magic in the Play-In Tournament.
Here are the latest updates on Embiid's status.
Will Joel Embiid play vs. Celtics in 2026 NBA Playoffs?
Embiid is listed as out on the Sixers' official injury report (post appendectomy surgery recovery), so he will not play in Game 1 against the Celtics.
"I'm preparing for Sunday's game, and I know he's not playing in that one," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. "So, that's all. We're just, like, zeroed in on trying to see, can we go in there and get ready to battle and fight and execute as best we can?"
While Philadelphia hasn't released a full recovery timeline, a report from ESPN's Shams Charania suggested that Embiid may be sidelined for multiple games.
"He's very much in the recovery phase of this," Charania said. "Once you recover, then you have to have a separate rehab part of the process as well. So, this is a serious issue that Joel Embiid had a week ago. He's still trying to recover."
Shams:
"Sixers are preparing for battle against the Celtics without Joel Embiid at least to start the series" pic.twitter.com/sdeTQ3Jskk
With Embiid out of the rotation, the 76ers will lean on the center duo of Andre Drummond and Adem Bona. In Philly's Play-In Tournament victory, Bona was part of the starting lineup, but he only played 16 minutes. Drummond made a huge impact off the bench, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 31 minutes.
After enjoying a long break following the conclusion of the regular season, the Celtics will be back in action when they face the 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday afternoon.
Boston, which will enter the postseason bracket as the No. 2 seed, is hoping to make another deep run just two years after winning the 18th championship in franchise history. Jayson Tatum's return gave the Celtics a huge boost late in the season, but the playoffs are a completely different animal.
The 76ers clinched a playoff berth with a Play-In Tournament win over the Magic on Wednesday. Philadelphia will continue to lean on Tyrese Maxey, who scored a team-high 31 points against Orlando.
Here is everything you need to know about Celtics vs. 76ers, including TV and streaming options for Game 1 of the first-round series.
How to watch Celtics vs. 76ers Game 1: TV channel, live stream
Celtics vs. 76ers will air on ABC. The game will also be available to stream on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and college sports, plus "SportsCenter," "First Take" and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.
Celtics vs. 76ers Game 1 start time
Date: Sunday April 19
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Celtics vs. 76ers is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19. The game will be played at the TD Garden in Boston.
The Boston Celtics are set to kick off their playoff journey on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. As everyone gears up for the game, the big question has been about player availability, and now the answer is finally clear.
Boston announced its injury report on Saturday afternoon, and there were no players listed as injured. The report indicated that everything was clear.
The Celtics have faced several injuries this season, the most significant being Jayson Tatum missing a large part of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. Fortunately, he returned in early March. Tatum wasn't the only one dealing with injury issues; Jaylen Brown also missed a few games due to Achilles tendinitis, and center Nikola Vučević also missed about a month with a hand injury.
Boston will now have a chance to field its full squad, and it will be interesting to see how the Celtics perform at full strength.
If the Celtics can stay healthy throughout the playoffs, they should be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. However, it's more important to take one series at a time, starting with eliminating the 76ers.
As the seven seed in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers will try to upset the two seed Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
For starters, Philadelphia has lost 15 of its 22 postseason series against the Celtics, including the last six matchups.
The first round of Eastern Conference playoffs has also been incredibly lopsided. Of the 28 first-round series in the East over the last seven seasons, only one was tied 2-2 after four games. The rest were either sweeps or 3-1 at that point.
27 out of the last 28 east first round playoff series have been either 3-1 or 4-0 through 4 games.
The only exception is Cavs Magic 2024, before that you have to go back to LeBron vs Oladipo.
Accordingly, that doesn't bode well for the 76ers' chances of pulling off multiple upsets and extending the series. They're already huge underdogs in Game 1 and the series, so the odds aren't in their favor.
The length of the series will likely hinge on Embiid's potential return from his recent appendectomy. If he comes back soon and plays reasonably well, he could help Philadelphia stay competitive and draw the series out. If he doesn't come back or is clearly limited when he does, however, it will probably be a short series.
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