Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Game 1 Prediction: Can Philly Compete Without Embiid?
Updated July 9, 2026
The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics will open their first-round NBA playoff series on Sunday at TD Garden. Philadelphia enters off a play-in victory over the Orlando Magic, while Boston comes in rested and heavily favored. The 76ers earned their spot with a strong showing led by Tyrese Maxey, while the Celtics bring one of the league’s most balanced teams into the postseason after a 56-win campaign. Here, I break down this matchup and make my 76ers vs Celtics Game 1 prediction before the action begins.
Philadelphia arrives with recent game action under its belt after a 109-97 win in the play-in round, where Maxey erupted for 31 points. That performance highlights how dangerous the 76ers can be when their lead guard controls the game. Still, the quick turnaround into a road playoff opener is far from ideal, especially against a deeper Boston group and a much better team than the Orlando team Philly beat in the first round.
Boston finished the regular season 56-26 and ranked near the top of the league on both ends of the floor. Their consistency has been the defining factor, while Philadelphia hovered around league average in most categories. Health remains a concern for the 76ers, particularly with Joel Embiid out, while the Celtics have Jayson Tatum back on the floor and are close to full health.
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Category | 76ers | Celtics |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 115.9 | 114.9 |
Team Field Goal % | 46% | 47% |
Rebounds per game | 43.6 | 46.4 |
Assists per game | 24.6 | 24.6 |
Boston enters this opener with advantages in depth, efficiency, and rest. Their ability to generate consistent offense while maintaining defensive discipline gives them a clear edge, especially at home where they have been dominant. Philadelphia’s path to an upset depends heavily on Maxey sustaining elite scoring output and getting meaningful contributions from supporting players. But I don't think Philly will get enough from its supporting cast to keep this game close. I'll lay the points with the Celtics in Game 1.
Affiliate DisclosureATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.
