After finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a stellar 56–26 record, the Celtics will enter the Eastern Conference playoff bracket as the No. 2 seed and face the No. 7 76ers in the first round.
Despite playing without Jayson Tatum for most of the season, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics finished with a top-five offensive rating (No. 2), defensive rating (No. 4) and net rating (No. 4). Boston continued to perform at an elite level when Tatum returned from an Achilles injury, winning 13 of its last 16 games before the start of the NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics will look to keep rolling against the 76ers, who clinched a postseason berth after defeating the Magic in the NBA Play-In Tournament. This will be the first playoff meeting between Boston and Philadelphia since 2023.
Here is the complete series schedule for Celtics vs. 76ers, including TV and streaming options for playoff games.
Celtics vs. 76ers schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 19 | Game 1: 76ers vs. Celtics | 1 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, DIRECTV |
| April 21 | Game 2: 76ers vs. Celtics | 7 p.m. | Peacock |
| April 24 | Game 3: Celtics vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | Prime Video |
| April 26 | Game 4: Celtics vs. 76ers | 7 p.m. | NBC, Peacock, DIRECTV |
| April 28 | Game 5*: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD | TBD |
| April 30 | Game 6*: Celtics vs. 76ers | TBD | TBD |
| May 2 | Game 7*: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
How to watch Celtics vs. 76ers: TV channel, live stream
Under the NBA’s new broadcast agreement, the first round is more accessible than ever. The Celtics will be featured across major platforms, including ABC, ESPN and NBC. Streaming options for the first round include DIRECTV, the ESPN app, Peacock and Prime Video.
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NBA Playoffs bracket 2026
Eastern Conference
- (1) Pistons vs. (8) TBD
- (2) Celtics vs. (7) 76ers
- (3) Knicks vs. (6) Hawks
- (4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Raptors
Western Conference
- (1) Thunder vs. (8) TBD
- (2) Spurs vs. (7) Trail Blazers
- (3) Nuggets vs. (6) Timberwolves
- (4) Lakers vs. (5) Rockets
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason:
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 14-17 |
| First round begins | April 18 |
| Conference semifinals begin | May 4* |
| NBA Draft Lottery | May 10 |
| Eastern Conference finals begin | May 19* |
| Western Conference finals begin | May 20* |
| NBA Finals begin | June 3 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 19 |
*Can move up depending on earlier series
