🆚 NBA Playoffs Preview: (2) Celtics vs. (7) 76ers

The bracket is set, and the second-seeded Celtics 56–26 draw the seventh-seeded 76ers 45–37 in a first-round showdown. Boston opens as a massive -12.5 favorite in Game 1 and holds the third-best championship odds in the field.

Philadelphia's Problem

Joel Embiid is ruled out for Game 1 with the recurring injury concerns that have shadowed his season, leaving the Sixers leaning on backups Adem Bona and Andre Drummond up front. The offense will run through:

• Tyrese Maxey — 28.3 PPG the engine of the attack.
• Paul George — 17.3 PPG in limited games.
• V.J. Edgecombe — promising rookie at 16 PPG 5.6 RPG 4.2 APG.

Boston's Edge

It starts with The Jays — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — backed by sixth man Payton Pritchard and a deep frontcourt of Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic and Luka Garza. With Philadelphia undermanned in the paint, Boston's depth advantage looms large. Advantage green.