{"id":593975,"date":"2026-04-19T16:44:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T16:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593975\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T16:44:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T16:44:10","slug":"surprise-celtics-and-renewed-76ers-primed-for-eastern-conference-playoff-matchup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/593975\/","title":{"rendered":"Surprise Celtics and renewed 76ers primed for Eastern Conference playoff matchup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two years ago, the Boston Celtics<\/a> were about to begin a playoff run<\/a> that would end with them raising a record 18th NBA championship.<\/p>\n

Two years later, Jayson Tatum<\/a>, one of the centerpieces of that team, enters the postseason with a much different perspective.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think more of a sense of gratitude than ever,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cNot that I took it for granted. But when something is taken away from you, it just means a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was 48 weeks ago that the Celtics\u2019 title defense was upended after Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 4 of Boston\u2019s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a little over a month since the six-time All-Star\u2019s return to the court after just shy of 10 months of rehabilitation. That, coupled with an overachieving Celtics team that earned a No. 2 seed playing in all but 16 games without the star, have again put Boston into championship contention.<\/p>\n

That quest begins Sunday against a Philadelphia 76ers team<\/a> that will open the series without big man Joel Embiid<\/a>, who is still recuperating following an appendectomy on April 9.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve just got to take it one day at a time, don\u2019t take anything for granted and just come out ready to go every single night,\u201d said Celtics star Jaylen Brown<\/a>, whose career efforts in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (5.1) have carried the team in Tatum\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n

Tatum said the nine-year partnership he\u2019s had alongside Brown is the reason he\u2019s enjoyed so much success so far during his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s successful by themselves,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cIt takes a group, it takes a village and a lot of this is like, where you were drafted. The teammates you\u2019ve gone to war with. So I\u2019m thankful, tenfold, for that. … Getting injured just kind of made me cherish each moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maxey<\/a>\u2019s resurgence<\/p>\n

The 76ers are also in a mode of reflection heading into the postseason.<\/p>\n

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Tyrese Maxey called Kyle Lowry<\/a> last May and made a promise to the veteran guard who is expected to retire at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

Yes, the Sixers were coming off a 24-win season, but Maxey vowed the Sixers would return to the playoffs.<\/p>\n

After beating Orlando<\/a> in the play-in game, the Sixers are indeed back, in large part because of Maxey. Maxey was voted an All-Star starter for the first time this season and carried the Sixers in large stretches with Embiid sidelined by various injuries and Paul George<\/a> out with injuries and a 25-game suspension for flunking a drug test.<\/p>\n

Maxey had to reflect after that Orlando win on that phone call.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI said there\u2019s no chance that I\u2019m going to not be in the playoffs next year,\u201d Maxey said.<\/p>\n

Maxey, who became the Sixers\u2019 career 3-point leader this season,- was the third option behind Embiid and James Harden<\/a> the last time the Sixers and Celtics met in the playoffs in 2023.<\/p>\n

The 76ers held a 3-2 semifinals series lead against Boston before dropping Game 6 at home and were crushed in Game 7 on the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mentality is definitely different,\u201d Maxey said. \u201cI mean, back then I was still attacking and still being aggressive but it\u2019s a different situation. For me, it\u2019s going to be a lot of film the next couple of days. A lot of film, breaking it down, get back in the gym probably Friday, a lot of getting to my spots and where I like to make shots and where I can get to. And then just read the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Playoff debut<\/p>\n

V.J. Edgecombe<\/a> is ready for his first NBA playoff game at the site of his impressive league debut.<\/p>\n

The Sixers rookie had a wildly successful first season after the Sixers made him the No. 3 overall pick in the draft out of Baylor.<\/p>\n

Edgecombe scored 34 points in his first pro game<\/a> on opening night in Boston.<\/p>\n

Allen Iverson held the Sixers\u2019 record with 30 points in his debut in 1996.<\/p>\n

Edgecombe\u2019s 14 first-quarter points were also the most ever for a player\u2019s first NBA quarter. That record had been held by LeBron James<\/a>, who scored 12 in 2003.<\/p>\n

Edgecombe finished the season with an average of 16.0 points in 75 games.<\/p>\n

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Edgecombe dunked on \u2014 and got in the face of \u2014 Jalen Suggs<\/a> for a 73-62 lead in the play-in game. Edgecombe was whistled for taunting and officials had to separate the teams.<\/p>\n

Sixers fans went wild, just as they have all season for Edgecombe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Philly fans, man,\u201d Edgecombe said. \u201cI\u2019m going to be so honest, man, it was loud. The intensity, the physicality, it was great. That\u2019s the type of game I live for. Physical, the crowd\u2019s involved. I couldn\u2019t ask for a better, like, debut-kind of playoff experience, kind of. It was great. I enjoyed every moment of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. <\/p>\n

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