The Philadelphia 76ers will play the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
How the matchup was set
- The Sixers finished as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference after the regular season ended.
- They then hosted and defeated the Orlando Magic in the NBA Play‑In Tournament, which secured their spot as the 7‑seed and locked in a first‑round series against the 2‑seed Celtics.
What this means for the series
- The Celtics hold home‑court advantage , so the series will start in Boston and follow the standard 2‑2‑1‑1‑1 format.
- For the Sixers, the matchup is a tough draw against one of the East’s top contenders, making this a high‑stakes opening round in the 2026 playoffs.
If you want, I can also break down key storylines (Joel Embiid vs. Boston’s front line, coach decisions, etc.) and recent head‑to‑head results between the teams.