The 76ers vs Celtics timeline runs from their first game in 1949 to Philadelphia’s 4–3 comeback in the 2026 first round. Boston leads the all-time series 344–254 and won 15 of 23 playoff series. The Sixers beat the Celtics in seven games in May 2026 after trailing 3–1.
Key takeaways
- The rivalry began on Nov. 30, 1949, when the Syracuse Nationals beat Boston
- Boston leads the all-time series 344–254 and the playoff series count 15–8
- The Sixers’ 2026 win was their first comeback from 3–1 down and first series win over Boston since 1982
- Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are Sixers now, and the teams meet in preseason on Oct. 10
The Full 76ers vs Celtics Timeline
The Sixers have changed cities and names, but the rivalry has kept going for more than 75 years. It helps to read it in three chapters.
1949 to 1969: Nationals, Russell, and Wilt
1949
The Syracuse Nationals beat the Celtics 87–71 on Nov. 30, the first game between the two franchises.
1954 to 1956
The Nationals beat Boston in three straight playoff series and won the 1955 title. Then the Celtics added Bill Russell.
1957 to 1961
Boston turned the tables and won the next three series, in 1957, 1959, and 1961.
1963
The Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers.
1965
The Celtics won a Game 7 in the East finals when John Havlicek deflected an inbound pass in the last seconds. Boston won 110–109.
1967
Wilt Chamberlain’s Sixers went 68–13, beat the Celtics 4–1, and ended Boston’s run of eight straight titles. Philadelphia then won the championship.
1968
Boston fought back from a 3–1 deficit to win in seven games. Chamberlain was traded after the season.
1977 to 1985: Erving, Bird, and Moses
1977
Julius Erving’s first season in Philadelphia ended with a seven-game win over the defending champion Celtics.
1980
Larry Bird’s rookie year ended in a 4–1 loss to the Sixers in the East finals.
1981
This time Boston came back from 3–1 down and won Game 7, 91–90, on a late Bird shot.
1982
The Celtics opened with a 121–81 win, still the Sixers’ worst playoff loss. Philadelphia then won Game 7 in Boston, and the crowd chanted “Beat L.A.” for the Sixers.
1983
A preseason game turned into three fights. Red Auerbach came out of the stands to calm things down and was fined $2,500.
1985
Boston won the East finals 4–1. Bird’s steal sealed Game 5.
2002 to 2023: New Stars, Same Result
2002
Paul Pierce’s Celtics beat Allen Iverson’s Sixers 3–2 in the first round.
2012
The fourth-seeded Celtics beat the eighth-seeded Sixers in seven games.
2017
Boston traded the No. 1 pick to Philadelphia for No. 3 and a future first. The Sixers took Markelle Fultz, and the Celtics took Jayson Tatum.
2018
Boston won the second-round series 4–1. Joel Embiid said afterward that it wasn’t really a rivalry.
2020
The Celtics swept the Sixers in the bubble. Philadelphia fired coach Brett Brown right after.
2023
The Sixers led 3–2, but Boston won in seven. Tatum scored 51 in Game 7, the most ever in that game. Philadelphia fired Doc Rivers.
The 2025–26 Season: Four Games, Then a Series for the Ages
The two teams split the regular season 2–2, and every game was close except one.
- Oct. 22, 2025: Sixers 117, Celtics 116. Tyrese Maxey scored 40, and rookie VJ Edgecombe scored 34 in his NBA debut.
- Oct. 31: Celtics 109, Sixers 108, in an NBA Cup group game.
- Nov. 11: Sixers 102, Celtics 100.
- March 1, 2026: Celtics 114, Sixers 98.
Then came the playoffs. Boston was the No. 2 seed, and the Sixers were No. 7 after winning the play-in. Philly fans had chanted “We want Boston” during the play-in game, and Celtics fans mocked them for it during Game 1.
| Game | Date | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19 | Celtics 123, Sixers 91 | Boston |
| 2 | April 21 | Sixers 111, Celtics 97 | Boston |
| 3 | April 24 | Celtics 108, Sixers 100 | Philadelphia |
| 4 | April 26 | Celtics 128, Sixers 96 | Philadelphia |
| 5 | April 28 | Sixers 113, Celtics 97 | Boston |
| 6 | April 30 | Sixers 106, Celtics 93 | Philadelphia |
| 7 | May 2 | Sixers 109, Celtics 100 | Boston |
Why the 2026 Series Was So Rare
Boston led 3–1 after Game 4, and Boston had never lost a series from that spot. The Celtics were 32–0 before this one.
The Sixers had never come back from 3–1 either, after 18 failed tries. This series changed that. It was also their first series win over the Celtics since 1982, and only their fifth since the franchise moved to Philadelphia in 1963.
Embiid was the biggest reason. He missed the first three games after an appendectomy, then returned in Game 4. He still became the first player in NBA history to score 100 points in a playoff series after missing the first three games.
In Game 7, Embiid had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Edgecombe, the rookie, scored 23. The Celtics played without Tatum, who missed most of the season with an Achilles injury.
It was also the ninth Game 7 between the two teams, an NBA record for any playoff rivalry.
What Changed This Summer
The rivalry got a new cast within weeks. On July 1, Boston traded Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and several first-round picks. Brown had been the Celtics’ best player while Tatum recovered.
Celtics president Brad Stevens admitted it was a hard trade to make, since Boston would play Brown’s new team six times, counting two preseason games. On July 27, LeBron James signed with the Sixers for his 24th season, an NBA record.
The Sixers did not stay hot long last spring. The Knicks, who went on to win the title, swept them in the second round.
When Do the 76ers Play the Celtics Next?
Soon. The two teams meet twice in the preseason, and then four more times in the regular season.
| Date | Game | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 10 | Preseason, 8 p.m. ET | TD Garden, Boston |
| Oct. 16 | Preseason, 7 p.m. ET | Philadelphia |
| Nov. 10 | Regular season | Philadelphia |
| Jan. 21, 2027 | Regular season (Prime Video) | TD Garden, Boston |
| Feb. 7, 2027 | Regular season | Philadelphia |
| March 7, 2027 | Regular season, national TV | TD Garden, Boston |
Brown’s first regular-season game in Boston as an opponent is Jan. 21.
76ers vs Celtics All-Time Record
The teams have met 598 times, counting the playoffs. The Celtics lead, but the Sixers have won the last three.
| Category | Celtics | 76ers |
|---|---|---|
| All games | 344 | 254 |
| Regular season | 275 | 200 |
| Playoff games | 69 | 54 |
| Playoff series | 15 | 8 |
Boston’s longest winning streak in the series is 20 games.
People Also Ask
Who won the 76ers vs Celtics series in 2026?
The 76ers won 4–3 in the first round. They trailed 3–1, then won Games 5, 6, and 7. Game 7 ended 109–100 in Boston on May 2, 2026. It was Philadelphia’s first series win over the Celtics since 1982.
Who leads the 76ers vs Celtics all-time series?
Boston leads 344–254 across 598 games. The Celtics lead 275–200 in the regular season and 69–54 in the playoffs. They have also won 15 of the 23 playoff series between the teams.
Have the 76ers ever come back from 3–1 against the Celtics?
Yes, once, in 2026. Before that, it went the other way. The Celtics came back from 3–1 down against Philadelphia in 1968 and again in 1981. Boston won both of those series in seven games.
When did the 76ers and Celtics first play?
They first played on Nov. 30, 1949, when the Syracuse Nationals beat the Celtics 87–71. The Nationals became the Philadelphia 76ers in 1963. The first playoff series between them came in 1953.
When do the 76ers play the Celtics next?
The next games are preseason matchups on Oct. 10 in Boston and Oct. 16 in Philadelphia. The first regular-season game is Nov. 10 in Philadelphia. The teams meet four times in the regular season.
The Bottom Line
The 76ers vs Celtics timeline has had plenty of heartbreak on both sides. Boston owns the numbers, but Philadelphia owns the newest ending.
Now the story gets a new cast, with Brown in a Sixers jersey and James joining Embiid and Maxey. The first real test is Nov. 10.
Until then, 2026 stays as the latest chapter in one of basketball’s oldest rivalries.
Bookmark this page and check back after the first meeting.
