Here's How The Celtics Take Down Philadelphia

by Joel Piton

Sportz Nation - 4/21/2026

Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran/TBG

Boston did exactly what they needed to do in Game 1, overwhelming Philadelphia 123-91 and grabbing an early 1-0 series lead. But nobody in Boston should sleep on this matchup or expect things to stay simple. The 76ers were without Joel Embiid in the opener, and while the Celtics took full advantage, this series could take on a completely different shape if Embiid comes back. A healthy or even limited Embiid changes everything—the shooting, the rebounding battle, and the pressure he takes off Tyrese Maxey and the rest of Philadelphia’s offense. Game one was a promising start, but just that. If the Celtics want to close this series out and punch their ticket to the semifinals, they’ll need to tighten up on some things before the Sixers become a far more dangerous version of themselves.

Boston’s biggest key moving forward is keeping Derrick White on Tyrese Maxey as much as possible. Maxey is a firecracker who can put up 30 without warning, but Maxey does not respond well to elite defense, as we've seen towards the end of the season. White disrupted his rhythm in Game 1 and forced him to settle for just 21 points. Without Joel Embiid, that was never going to be enough for Philadelphia to seriously threaten Boston. The Celtics also did an excellent job neutralizing another potential Sixers advantage: bench depth. Philadelphia is one of the few playoff teams that truly trusts its second unit, but Mazzulla matched that head-on. The Celtics played their entire roster and got meaningful production from young guys like Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman, and a total team effort helped power a convincing 30-point win.

Joel Embiid is the wild card hanging over this series. He missed Game 1 after undergoing surgery for appendicitis, and there is no guarantee he will return, but if he does, Boston could be dealing with a completely different animal. The Celtics cannot afford to get the little they've been receiving from Nikola Vucevic moving forward. His offensive confidence has come and gone since joining Boston (16 PPG to 9), and when his jumper isn't falling, his impact can shrink fast. Scoring just three points on 1-for-3 shooting in the opener, Vucevic did not exactly look like the kind of frontcourt answer Boston will need against a healthy Embiid. Maybe the Celtics will never see that matchup, but I'm thinking ahead. They're going to need far more from Vooch if they want to be taken seriously past the first round.

Photo Credit: Devin Crawford/AP

As for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston needs more of the same. The tandem came out firing in Game 1 and combined for 51 points in the win, never really letting Philadelphia breathe. The Sixers just do not have enough reliable perimeter defense to comfortably deal with both of them at once, especially when Boston is forcing matchups against veterans like Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. to guard up. Suffice to say, Tatum did not have his cleanest night from deep, but that's not something Celtics fans should panic over. His game continues to look strongest when he is attacking the rim, getting downhill, and putting pressure on the glass, and he's still one of the toughest covers in basketball. Brown, meanwhile, looked like the tone-setter Boston needed, and if the Celtics want to keep control of this series, they should keep letting their two best players pressure Philadelphia’s wings, attack the paint, and make life difficult for defenders like Oubre and rookie V.J. Edgecombe all series long.

Mazzulla's done well to maximize Jaylen Brown as the focal point of the offense, but Nick Nurse is a resourceful coach too and won't let Game 2 look exactly like Game 1. Boston has to double down on the things that broke Philadelphia early. The Celtics dominated the turnover battle in the opener, turning 15 Sixers giveaways into 22 points while allowing just three points off their own miscues. Boston needs to keep its hands active in the passing lanes, force rushed decisions out of the starters, and get out in transition before the Sixers can settle into their defense. Game 1 was also a perfect example of modern playoff math: the Celtics knocked down 16 threes, while Philadelphia shot just 4-for-23 from deep. If Boston keeps letting it fly from the perimeter while locking up the Sixers’ shooters, it can keep control of this series and make it even harder for Philly to steal momentum back.

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher/ImagnImages

This should still be a strong series, even if Boston has the clear edge right now. It isn't hard to view this as a matchup the Celtics should win with Joel Embiid sidelined, and there's at least some sympathy to be had for a Philadelphia team repeating a nightmare cycle. But from Boston’s side, this season has felt like a fever dream in the best way, with Jayson Tatum returning from injury just in time to give the Celtics a real chance to make noise. The path to victory is there. The pressure is there too. Now it's all about closing the door before this series gets any more complicated. How do you think the next three games will go?

The 2025-26 NBA Playoffs are officially underway 🚨 Can't keep up with the games? Be sure to stay tuned into Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.

Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)