As of early Tuesday, the Boston Celtics are poised to face the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their playoff series. The Celtics enter as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, boasting a solid 56-26 record. In contrast, the 76ers hold the seventh seed with a record of 45-37.
However, the landscape has shifted dramatically for Philadelphia. Joel Embiid will miss this crucial first-round series due to an appendectomy. This absence is significant—Embiid is a key player for the Sixers. Without him, they are expected to struggle against a strong Celtics team.
Game 1 is set for April 19 at 1 p.m. ET, with the Celtics favored by 12.5 points. The over/under for total points scored is set at 214.5. These numbers reflect a clear expectation of dominance from Boston.
The two teams had split their regular-season series 2-2, indicating that matches between them can be competitive. Yet, without Embiid, the dynamics have changed drastically for Philadelphia.
Within hours of news breaking about Embiid’s surgery, analysts began weighing in on the potential impact. “Without Embiid, the 76ers have been outscored by 3.2 points per 100 possessions,” one expert noted, highlighting their defensive struggles—allowing an average of 116.3 points per 100 possessions.
Meanwhile, Boston’s Jayson Tatum has returned from injury and is averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game since his comeback. The Celtics have not lost in the first round when Tatum and Jaylen Brown are on the court together.
Despite Embiid’s absence, some believe Philadelphia still has firepower. Tyrese Maxey averaged an impressive 28.3 points and 6.6 assists per game during the season. Alongside Paul George and VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers may still pose a threat.
The Celtics are looking to win their second championship in three years as they open up their playoff run against Philadelphia. This matchup not only carries historical significance—having met in the playoffs 24 times—but also sets the tone for both teams moving forward.