PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics will face off against the Philadelphia 76ers in one of the marquee matchups of the first round. 

Just about 48 hours earlier in Philadelphia, the Sixers had evened out the series at three games apiece. The two Eastern Conference heavyweights are now locked into a win-or-go-home showdown at the TD Garden.

What looked like a straightforward Celtics’ 3-1 lead had evaporated in thin air. 

The series extending to a Game 7 may have come as a surprise to many, but for those who know the playoff head-to-head between these two franchises, it came as no surprise.

NBA Acknowledges Celtics-Sixers Historic Postseason feat

As tip-off approaches, both the Celtics and the Sixers are poised for one more series-deciding Game 7. This has come far more often between these sides in the past. 

GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The league announced ahead of the matchup that these two are regular customers in the long history of Game 7s.

“The Sixers and Celtics will play in their 9th Game 7 tonight… the most in NBA history. No other two teams have played in more than 5,” the NBA wrote on X.

The franchises have also met 23 times in the postseason overall — the most of any pair in the league. 

A Game 7 seemed unlikely after Game 4, but felt inevitable. Tonight’s Game 7 kicks off a rare slate of three first-round deciders in the East. 

The Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic, plus the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers, will follow on Sunday. Yet none match the Celtics-Sixers for sheer volume of playoff history or generational stakes.

Boston and Philadelphia’s most recent Game 7 was back in 2023, when Jayson Tatum erupted for a record 51 points as the Celtics eliminated the Sixers. That win was Boston’s sixth straight playoff victory over Philly. 

The Sixers’ most recent elimination of Boston dates all the way back to 1982 in the Conference semis.

High Stakes Await Both Sides 

History doesn’t favor Philadelphia, which is 0-4 in winner-takes-all contests since 2001. Boston, which has played more Game 7s, is 9-6 in that same span with its last Game 7 being in 2023.

Boston entered the series as the favorites and lived up to the billing for most parts. However, a disastrous showing in Games 5 and 6 and a strong Sixers performance forced the series to seven Games.

A home Game 7 loss would mark a shocking early exit for one of the East’s top championship contenders. Boston fans would demand a string showing from Joe Mazzulla’s side, which seems to grow cold in the second half of the last two games. 

The Celtics scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter in Game 5 and 14 points in the third quarter in Game 6. 

The Sixers entered through the play-in route as the No. 7 seed and played the first three games without Joel Embiid, but they have shown resilience like winning Game 2 at the TD Garden. 

They will cause Boston some problems.

Tip off is slated for tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden and will air nationally on NBC and Peacock. 

The winner will advance to face the New York Knicks — who handled their first-round business in six games — in the second round.