Celtics Rout 76ers in Game 1, Extend Philly's Playoff Hex

BOSTON -- Jayson Tatum shook off a year away from the playoffs with a vengeance, dropping 25 points to go with 11 rebounds and 7 assists as the Boston Celtics dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Sunday at TD GardenVenue·TD Garden.

The 123-91 final evoked Boston's familiar postseason mastery over their rivals, marking Philadelphia's seventh consecutive series defeat against the Celtics dating back to 2023. Tatum, returning after rupturing his right Achilles last season, wasted no time reasserting himself, leading a first-quarter explosion where Boston built a commanding 33-18 lead. By halftime, the margin swelled to 64-46, and the third quarter pushed it to 95-71, turning the affair into a rout before the fourth-quarter reserves closed it out.

Jaylen BrownPlayer·Jaylen Brown complemented Tatum's all-around line with 26 points, slicing through Philly's defense with ruthless efficiency. Boston's switchable perimeter defenders, including Jrue Holiday and Derrick WhitePlayer·Derrick White, smothered Philadelphia's stars, forcing 18 turnovers while shooting 52% from the field and 43% from deep on 14-of-33 attempts. The Celtics' bench outscored Philly's 42-24, underscoring Boston's depth in a game that was over by the blink of an eye.

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For the 76ers, who entered as the East's No. 7 seed with a 45-37 regular-season mark (22-19 away), the loss amplified their postseason woes. Without Joel Embiid, sidelined by an appendectomy, Tyrese Maxey and Paul GeorgePlayer·Paul George shouldered the load but faltered under Boston's pressure. Maxey scored 22, George added 11 on 4-of-14 shooting, and the team connected on just 39% overall and 29% from three. Philly's lack of paint presence and turnover plague -- 18 miscues leading to 28 Boston points -- sealed a familiar fate.

"We got outworked in the paint and on the glass. Need to clean up turnovers."— Nick Nurse.

The Celtics coach praised his squad's defensive tone-setters. "Our defense set the tone—Holiday and White were elite." — JoePlayer·Joe Mazzulla.

This mirrors patterns from recent years: Boston's 15-2 home playoff record since their 2024 title, including a 25-point Game 1 win over Philly in 2025. The No. 1-seeded Celtics (62-20 regular season) now lead 1-0, with odds shifting to -650 series favorites. Game 2 tips off Tuesday at TD GardenVenue·TD Garden (7 p.m. ET), where Philadelphia must summon a drastic response to avoid an 0-2 hole -- or face an early exit in a rivalry defined by Boston's dominance.