🏀 76ers vs. Celtics Prediction, Series Odds & Best Bet: 2026 NBA Playoffs Preview

The Boston Celtics (56-26) were supposed to take a year off after losing Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury last postseason. Now he's back for the No. 2 seed in the East against a familiar rival in the Philadelphia 76ers (45-37), who are once again without Joel Embiid entering the NBA playoffs.

Those two are the X-factors for this first-round series ahead of Game 1 today at 1 p.m. ET (ABC) at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are 13.5-point favorites to win the series opener and -1200 favorites to advance to the second round, but Tyrese Maxey is peaking at the right time ahead of these teams' fourth playoff meeting since 2018.

Below, I break down my 76ers vs. Celtics prediction with the latest series odds, team stats and analysis, prop bets, and my best bet to advance in Round 1 as part of our NBA playoff predictions.

💵 76ers vs. Celtics series odds

Series odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, April 19.

Boston enters this series as the heavy favorite with -1200 odds to advance, which carry a 92.31% implied probability according to our odds converter. The market says a Celtics sweep (+200) or five-game series win (+220) are both roughly three times as likely as a 76ers series win (+750), with the most likely path for Philly priced as a Game 7 win on the road when Embiid could be back on the court.

📊 76ers vs. Celtics head-to-head stats

Team stats and league rankings via NBA.com and Basketball Reference.

76ers vs. Celtics records & team stats

76ers vs. Celtics season series (H2H)

🔍 76ers vs. Celtics series preview

Follow all of our NBA expert analysis throughout the 2026 NBA playoffs.

How did the Celtics get here?

After Tatum tore his Achilles in last year's playoffs, the Celtics sold off pieces from its previous championship team in the offseason - trading Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks while letting Al Horford (Warriors) and Luke Kornet (Spurs) leave in free agency.

Jaylen Brown carried the load during the regular season, ranking fourth in points per game (28.7 PPG) and second in usage rate (36.2%) while leading Boston in scoring in 53 of his 71 starts. Then Tatum returned on March 6 and has averaged 21.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.3 assists with 10 double-doubles in 16 games.

This isn't the same team that won it all two years ago, but the addition of Nikola Vucevic at the deadline should add another element at center behind starter Neemias Queta. The C's rank in the top five in offensive and defensive rating, and Joe Mazzulla has never lost a first-round series as a head coach.

How did the 76ers get here?

It's a minor miracle the 76ers are in the playoffs given how few games they've played at full strength. The trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey played together in just 448 minutes across 21 games despite Maxey leading the NBA in minutes per game (38) while ranking fifth in scoring (28.3 PPG).

The 76ers went 21-23 in 44 games without Embiid compared to a 24-14 record in his 38 games before appendicitis surgery. His size inside remains key for a team that ranked outside the top 20 in rebound rate (49.1%) during the regular season, which is especially concerning in this matchup with Boston.

Still, most teams don't have the scoring punch of Maxey and George with rookie wing VJ Edgecombe breaking out in his first season, too. If Embiid can return before this series is over - and the team survives that long - it'll have a puncher's chance.

Who's healthy and who's hurt?

Embiid had emergency appendectomy surgery on April 9, and Nick Nurse ruled him out for Game 1 on Friday. He hasn't been officially ruled out for the entire series, but the outlook isn't great with the average recovery timeline for an in-season appendectomy lasting roughly three weeks. That would put his return around Game 6 or 7 if the series lasts that long.

The rest of the 76ers' lineup should be healthy for this series, while the Celtics are whole with Tatum returning from his Achilles injury, though he's still clearly returning to full health.

Who decides the series?

The Celtics' entire season hinges on whether Tatum can approach the level he was at last season before he tore his Achilles in the second round against the Knicks. It's incredible that he's even on the court just 10 months removed from injury, and he's been a major part of Boston's attack in his 16 games back.

There's a chance we see him elevate his game in the postseason with a longer leash, or he could regress under the physical stress and intensity of a playoff series. A short series would be good for the Celtics; a long series could both tax Tatum and open the door for Embiid's return.

🎯 76ers vs. Celtics prop bets

Series prop bet odds via BetMGM as of Sunday, April 19.

Top points leader (series)

Top rebounds leader (series)

Top assists leader (series)

Top 3-pointers made leader (series)

🏆 76ers vs. Celtics series prediction and best bet

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs.

Series prediction: Celtics in 5 games (+220)

Boston needs to take care of business early in the series to avoid the disaster scenario of Embiid returning and Tatum waning ahead of a Game 6 in Philly or Game 7 at home. I don't think we reach that point, because the Celtics' 1-2 punch remains one of the best in basketball and Boston's size should overwhelm a shorthanded Sixers lineup down low. I'm expecting Maxey to go nuclear once or twice, but the C's should finish the job in Game 5 at home.

Series prediction: Celtics to win series 4-1 (+220 via BetMGM)

Best bet: Jayson Tatum rebounds leader (+120)

This is a fascinating market that features Tatum as the favorite at two major sportsbooks in DraftKings and Caesars with Andre Drummond favored at BetMGM and bet365. We're catching a great price here on Tatum, who has led the Celtics with 10 rebounds per game since his return from injury. I'd be wary of betting Drummond, who might not start each game if Embiid returns and will have to fight with Queta and Vucevic inside while Tatum gobbles up long rebounds from the perimeter for the 3-point happy Celtics.

Best bet: Jayson Tatum to lead series in rebounds (+120 via bet365)

📅 76ers vs. Celtics series schedule, how to watch Game 1 today

See the full 2026 NBA playoff schedule through the NBA Finals.

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