76ers–Celtics rivalry

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76ers–Celtics rivalry
Philadelphia 76ers
Boston Celtics
First meetingNovember 30, 1949
Nationals 87, Celtics 71
Latest meetingFebruary 27, 2024
76ers 99, Celtics 117
Statistics
Meetings total583
All-time series336–247 (BOS)
Regular season series270–197 (BOS)
Postseason results66–50 (BOS)
Longest win streakBOS W20
Current win streakBOS W3
Postseason history
Wilt Chamberlain being defended by Bill Russell.

The 76ers–Celtics rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics. The two teams have the most meetings in the NBA playoffs, playing each other in 22 series (and the 1954 Eastern Division Round Robin), with the Celtics winning 15 of them.[1] The 76ers are considered to be the Celtics' second biggest rival, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

History[edit]

Celtics–Nationals rivalry[edit]

The Syracuse Nationals and Boston Celtics played in the Eastern Division in the 1950s. The Nationals beat the Celtics in three straight playoff series in 1954, 1955, and 1956, winning the NBA Championship in 1955. After the 1956 season the Celtics traded for Bill Russell and drafted K.C. Jones, both of whom starred and won Championships at the University of San Francisco. Also adding Tom Heinsohn with a territorial pick, the Celtics would win their next three playoff series against the Nationals in the playoffs (1957, 1959, and 1961) before the Nationals were sold and moved to Philadelphia.

Chamberlain and Russell[edit]

In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers, renewing the basketball rivalry between Philadelphia and Boston (from when the Warriors had been in Philadelphia). Shortly after the All-Star break in 1965, the Sixers acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the Warriors, bringing the Chamberlain/Russell matchup back into the rivalry as well.

The Celtics and Sixers met in the Eastern Conference Finals that season with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. The series went the distance, with Game 7 being held at the Boston Garden. With 5 seconds left and Boston leading 110–109, Russell tried to inbound the ball when it hit a guy wire that supported the backboard, which resulted in a turnover. However, the Sixers failed to capitalize when Celtics forward John Havlicek deflected the inbound pass to Sam Jones, who ran out the clock. The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games for their seventh straight title.[8]

In the 1966 season, the Sixers looked poised to end Boston's 7-year reign as NBA Champions; Philadelphia won the regular season series against Boston 6–4 and finished 55–25 to beat out the Celtics by one game and win the number one seed in Eastern Division. Chamberlain also won the MVP over Russell, who had won three of the previous four awards. When they met in the Conference Championship however, Boston defeated Philadelphia 4-1 and went on to win their eighth straight NBA Championship.

The next year the Sixers brought in Alex Hannum as head coach. Hannum had also coached the Bob Pettit-led St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA Championship-the last year someone had defeated the Celtics in the championship. The Sixers went a then-NBA record 68-13 while the Celtics were 60–21. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers overpowered Boston, beating them in five games and ending Boston's eight-year reign as NBA champions. The Sixers won the NBA Championship by beating the San Francisco Warriors in six games, giving the Sixers and Chamberlain their first title. The 1966-67 76ers were voted in 1980 as being the greatest team in the history of the NBA to that point.

In 1968, the Sixers finished 62–20, eight games above Boston, and Chamberlain won his third consecutive MVP award. Both teams met in the Conference Championship again, and the Celtics won the Series in seven games after trailing 3–1, and went on to win the 1968 NBA Championship. After the season, 76ers head coach Alex Hannum left the NBA for the ABA in order to move closer to his family on the West Coast, and Chamberlain requested a trade, and was traded to Los Angeles.

Without Wilt, the Sixers managed a 55–27 record. Though Philadelphia again won the regular-season series against the Celtics, they were no match for Boston in the playoffs and lost 4–1. The Celtics went on to win the championship, their 11th in 13 seasons. After this season, Russell retired and both teams would not meet in the playoffs until 1977. The only two years Russell's Celtics did not win the championship, they lost to teams coached by Alex Hannum.

Dr. J and Bird[edit]

The Sixers slumped until acquiring Julius Erving before the 1977 season. They became a contender in the East, and in Erving's first season with the team, the Sixers eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics in a tough seven-game Eastern semifinals in 1977. Boston slumped for the next two seasons while Philadelphia continued to be a strong team in the NBA, but in 1978, the Celtics drafted Indiana State forward Larry Bird in the hope of reviving their glory years as a franchise. Bird joined the team for the 1980 season and his impact was immediate. The Celtics improved from a 29–53 record in the 1978–79 season to a league-best 61–21 record in 1979–1980, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals that season to face the Sixers. The Sixers beat Boston in 5 but failed to win the title against the Lakers.

The next season, both the Celtics and the Sixers finished with the best record in the NBA at 62–20, but Boston held the tiebreaker in the ranking. In a classic 7-game Eastern Finals, the Celtics beat the 76ers in 1981 4–3, coming all the way back from a 3–1 deficit to win the next 3 games in classic finishes. The Celtics won Games 5 and 6 by 2 points each and the seventh game by 1 point, 91–90, coming back from a 7-point deficit with a few minutes left to win on a Larry Bird banker from the left side with barely a minute left. The Celtics then defeated the Houston Rockets on their way to their first title in 5 years. For the 1981–1982 season, the Celtics again had the best record in the NBA at 63–19, followed by Philadelphia at 58–24, with one of the Sixers' key victories in the regular season being a win in Boston to snap the Celtics' 18-game winning streak. In the 1982 Eastern Finals, Boston attempted to come back from a similar 3–1 predicament and managed to extend the series to seven games, with the seventh game playing in raucous Boston Garden. However, Philadelphia had the last laugh, winning Game 7. In that finale, as Boston fans saw their team losing, in a show of respect, they congratulated the Sixers by shouting the now-famous "Beat L.A." chant as the Sixers were about to face the well-rested Lakers.[9][10] In the end, however, the weary Sixers couldn't keep up, losing to the Lakers in the Finals.

The next season, the Sixers picked up MVP Moses Malone from the Houston Rockets. Malone repeated as the MVP and led the 76ers to an NBA Championship in a 4-game sweep against the Lakers. With the Bucks sweeping Boston, it made the Sixers' title run much easier.

The "highlight" of this era of the rivalry was a 1983 exhibition game that featured 3 separate fights: Moses Malone/Cedric Maxwell, Larry Bird/Marc Iavaroni, and Gerald Henderson/Sedale Threatt.[11] During Bird/Iavaroni, Bird ripped 76ers coach Billy Cunningham's sports jacket in half. The fight was reaching a peak when 66-year-old Red Auerbach came down from the stands to restore order. For his actions, Auerbach was fined $2,500 by the NBA.[12] There was also a memorable 1985 choking match between Bird and Erving.[13]

Since 1984, the only times the two teams met in the playoffs were in 1985, 2002, 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2023. Though the 1983–84 season saw the Celtics win the title and the Sixers upset in the first round by the New Jersey Nets, the Sixers had a measure of satisfaction in the regular season by winning 4 of their 6 regular season games versus Boston, the only time the Sixers managed to win the regular season series versus Boston in the Larry Bird era. Charles Barkley joined the Sixers for the 1984–85 season, and the 1985 Eastern Final series was the Sixers' last conference final until 2001. In the 1985 Finals, they lost to Boston in five games after Boston had won the first 3 games, including a third game in Philadelphia where Julius Erving was uncharacteristically booed by the home crowd for his poor play. Game 5 saw Larry Bird pick off Andrew Toney with a few seconds left and Boston up by 2, then dribble up court to preserve the Celtics' close victory, reminiscent of John Havlicek's series-clinching steal in 1965.

Lull and rebuilding[edit]

After the 1985 playoffs, the rivalry would die down. Bird and the Celtics would win one more championship in 1986, but the Sixers would not reach another conference finals until 2001. The Sixers saw a steep decline through the rest of the '80's, trading Malone and Cheeks along with the retirements of Erving and Toney. Charles Barkley emerged as the Sixers new leader and a prominent NBA superstar, however he was not able to get the team past the second round. Though considered an MVP candidate in his prime, the Sixers traded him in 1992 and went through a period of rebuilding.

After winning the championship in 1986, the Celtics also began a decline that started with tragedy. Two days after they drafted him in the 1986 draft, Len Bias died of a drug overdose. Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack in his prime in 1993. The Celtics then missed the playoffs in 1994, and did not post a winning record until the 2001–02 season.

Despite the 90's being a period of stagnation for both teams, it did produce some key developments. Allen Iverson was drafted by the 76ers as the first overall pick in the 1996 draft, and the Celtics would draft Paul Pierce two years later. Both players would become superstars in the league and lead their respective team into the playoffs numerous times.

In 2002, the Celtics, in their first appearance since 1995, won the first round meeting 3–2 over the defending conference champion 76ers. That series featured the scoring exploits of Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce.[14]

The two teams met again in the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the Celtics won 4–3. The fourth-seeded Celtics defeated the eighth-seeded Sixers in a tight, back and forth series.

The teams met again in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals as both team advanced from the first round lead by their new draft pick Jayson Tatum from Celtics with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid from 76ers, respectively. The Celtics won 4–1, and Joel Embiid afterwards exclaimed "This is not a rivalry, I don't know our record against them, but it's pretty bad. They always kick our ass."[15]

The teams met again in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs and the Celtics swept the series 4–0. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was held in a neutral site with no spectators.[16]

The teams met again in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals and, despite the 76ers being up 3-2 going into game 6, the Celtics managed to come back and won 4–3.[17] The series was highlighted by Jayson Tatum's 51 points in Game 7 of the series. His 51 points are the most in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history, surpassing the previous mark by Stephen Curry (50 points), who had already held the record two weeks earlier.[18]

The Boston Strangler[edit]

Boston sportswriters dubbed Sixers' shooting guard Andrew Toney "The Boston Strangler" because of his ability to take control of games against the Celtics. He is remembered for scoring 25 points against Boston in the fourth quarter on March 21, 1982, at the Philadelphia Spectrum. It is still the Sixers' team record for most points scored in a quarter. He also scored a team-high 33 points in the classic Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Finals in Boston (the famous "Beat LA!" game), leading the Sixers to the Finals and avoiding a second straight meltdown in the Eastern Finals versus Boston. Andrew Toney's ability to have big scoring games in the playoffs versus the Celtics was one of the reasons for the Celtics in acquiring defensive ace and Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson from the Phoenix Suns prior to the 1983–84 season, and Johnson would go on to have several great seasons with the Celtics, winning two titles with them in 1984 and 1986.

Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum[edit]

In 2018 the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and The Philadelphia 76ers relit. In 2018 Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics met Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time in the playoffs.[19] In the 2018 playoff series Tatum and the boston celtics beat Embiid and the  Philadelphia 76s.[19] In this series Embiid averaged 21 point 12 rebounds.[19] Embiid brought the 76s to 2 more matchups against the Boston Celtics. In 2020 Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics swept Embiid and his 76ers.[19] In 2023 Joel Embiid tied the series 2-2 against Tatum and his Boston Celtics.[19] In the final game of the 2023 series to sent the 76ers home, Tatum scored 51 points to send the 76ers home.[19]

Season-by-season results[edit]

76ers vs. Celtics Season-by-Season Results
1949-1950s (Celtics 69-67)
Season Season series at Syracuse Nationals at Boston Celtics at Neutral Site Overall series Notes
1949–50 Nationals 2–0 Nationals, 1-0 Nationals, 1-0 Nationals
2–0 		Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs. Nationals lose 1950 NBA Finals
1950–51 Nationals 5–3 Nationals, 4-0 Celtics, 3-1 Nationals, 7-3
1951–52 Nationals 5-4 Nationals, 4-1 Celtics, 3-1 Nationals, 12-7
1952–53 Nationals 6–5 Nationals, 5-0 Celtics, 4-0 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 18-12 Neutral Site Games were played at Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Madison Square Garden (III), New York, New York
1953 Eastern Divison Semifinals Celtics 2–0 Celtics, 1-0 Celtics, 1-0 Nationals, 18-14 First postseason meeting in the rivalry
1953–54 Tied 5–5 Nationals, 3-1 Celtics, 3-1 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 23-19 Neutral Site Games were played at Madison Square Garden (III) and Baltimore Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland
1954 East Divison Round Robin Nationals 2–0 Nationals, 1-0 Nationals, 1-0 Nationals, 25-19
1954 East Division Finals Nationals 2–0 Nationals, 1-0 Nationals, 1-0 Nationals, 27-19
1954–55 Tied 6–6 Nationals, 5-0 Celtics, 5-0 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 33-25 Both neutral site games were played at Madison Square Garden (III)
1955 East Division Finals Nationals 3–1 Nationals, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 36-26
1955–56 Celtics 8–4 Nationals, 3-2 Celtics, 3-1 Celtics, 3-0 Nationals, 40-34 Neutral site games were played at Madison Square Garden (III), Bangor Municipal Auditorium, Bangor, Maine, and Convention Hall
1956 East Division Semifinals Nationals 2–1 Nationals, 1-0 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 42-35
1956–57 Nationals 7–5 Nationals, 4-1 Celtics, 3-2 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 49-40 Neutral site games were played at Convention Hall and Madison Square Garden (III).
1957 East Division Finals Celtics 3–0 Celtics, 1-0 Celtics, 2-0 Nationals, 49-43
1957–58 Celtics 7–5 Nationals, 4-1 Celtics, 5-0 Tie, 1–1 Nationals, 54-50 Neutral site games were played at Madison Square Garden (III) and Convention Hall.
1958–59 Celtics 7–5 Nationals, 4-1 Celtics, 4-1 Celtics, 2-0 Nationals, 59-57 Neutral site games were played at Convention Hall and Madison Square Garden (III).
1959 East Division Finals Celtics 4–3 Nationals, 3-0 Celtics, 4-0 Nationals, 62-61 First best of 7 series in rivalry
1959–60 Celtics 8–5 Tie, 3–3 Celtics, 5-0 Nationals, 2-0 Celtics, 69-67 Neutral site games were played at Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island and Convention Hall
1960s (Celtics, 82-51)
Season Season series at Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics at Neutral site Overall series Notes
1960–61 Celtics 10–3 Celtics, 3-2 Celtics, 4-1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 79-70 Neutral site games played at Rhode Island Auditorium and Convention Hall.
1961 East Division Finals Celtics 4–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 83-71
1961–62 Celtics 10–2 Celtics, 4-1 Celtics, 5-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 93-73 Neutral site games were played at Rochester Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York and Rhode Island Auditorium.
1962–63 Tied 6–6 Nationals, 4-1 Celtics, 4-1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 99-79 Neutral site games were played at Convention Hall and Rhode Island Auditorium.
1963–64 Celtics 10–2 Celtics, 3-2 Celtics, 4-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 109-81 Syracuse Nationals relocate to become Philadelphia 76ers. Celtics reach 100 wins in the rivalry. Neutral site games were played at Rhode Island Auditorium, Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Onondaga War Memorial.
1964–65 Tied 5–5 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 3-0 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 114-86 Neutral site games were played at Madison Square Garden (III), Rhode Island Auditorium, and Onondaga War Memorial.
1965 East Division Finals Celtics 4–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 4-0 Celtics, 118-89
1965–66 76ers 6–4 76ers, 4-0 Celtics, 3-2 Celtics, 1-0 Celtics, 122-95 Neutral site game was played at Onondaga War Memorial.
1966 East Division Finals Celtics 4–1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 126-96
1966–67 Celtics 5–4 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 3-2 Celtics, 131-100
1967 East Division Finals 76ers 4–1 76ers, 3-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 132-104 First-time 76ers win a postseason series against the Celtics.
1967–68 Tied 4–4 76ers, 3-1 Celtics, 3-1 Celtics, 136-108
1968 East Division Finals Celtics 4–3 Celtics, 3-1 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 140-111 First-time road team has the better record in a postseason series.
1968–69 Celtics 5–2 Celtics, 3-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 145-113
1969 East Division Semifinals Celtics 4–1 Celtics, 3-0 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 149-114 76ers and Celtics meet in the playoffs five consecutive times.
1969–70 76ers 4–2 76ers, 2-1 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 151-118
1970s (Celtics, 42-25)
Season Season series at Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics at Neutral site Overall series Notes
1970–71 Celtics 4–2 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 155-120
1971–72 Celtics 6-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 1-0 Celtics, 161-120 First time Celtics sweep 76ers in a season. Neutral site game played at Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
1972–73 Celtics 7–0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 1-0 Celtics, 168-120 Neutral site game played at Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island.
1973–74 Celtics 7-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 175-121 Celtics win 20 games in a row against 76ers. Neutral site games played at Providence Civic Center and Hersheypark Arena. Last time the rivalry is played at Neutral Site.
1974–75 Celtics 5–3 Celtics, 3-1 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 180-124
1975–76 Celtics 4-3 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 184-127
1976–77 76ers 3–1 76ers, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 185-130
1977 Eastern Conference Semifinals 76ers 4–3 76ers, 3-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 188-134
1977–78 76ers 4–0 76ers, 2-0 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 188-138 76ers sweep Celtics for the first time in a season.
1978–79 Tied 2–2 Tie, 1–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 190-140 First time in rivalry both teams split the series.
1979–80 Tied 3–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 193-143
1980s (Celtics, 44-39)
Season Season series at Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Overall series Notes
1980 Eastern Conference Finals 76ers 4–1 76ers, 2-0 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 194-147
1980–81 Tied 3–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 197-150
1981 Eastern Conference Finals Celtics 4–3 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 3-1 Celtics, 201-153
1981–82 Celtics 4–2 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 205-155
1982 Eastern Conference Finals 76ers 4–3 76ers, 2-1 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 208-159
1982–83 Tied 3–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 211-162
1983–84 76ers 4–2 76ers, 2-1 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 213-166
1984–85 Tied 3–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 216-169
1985 Eastern Conference Finals Celtics 4–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 220-170
1985–86 Celtics 4–2 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 224-172
1986–87 Tied 3–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 227-175
1987–88 Celtics 4–2 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 231-177
1988–89 Tied 3–3 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 234-180
1989–90 Celtics 3–2 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 237-182
1990s (Celtics, 26-16)
Season Season series at Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Overall series Notes
1990–91 76ers 3–2 76ers, 3-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 239-185
1991–92 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 242-186
1992–93 Celtics 4-1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 246-187
1993–94 Celtics 4-1 Celtics, 2-1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 250-188
1994–95 Celtics 3–1 Celtics, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 253-189
1995–96 Celtics 4-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 257-189 First sweep of the 76ers since the 1972 season.
1996–97 76ers 3–1 Tie, 1–1 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 258-192
1997–98 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 261-193
1998–99 76ers 2–1 76ers, 1-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 262-195 Fewest amount of games played (3) in a season since the 1949 season.
1999–2000 76ers 3–1 76ers, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 263-198 First time 76ers and Celtics finish a full decade without a playoff series.
2000s (Celtics, 24-21)
Season Season series at Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Overall series Notes
2000–01 76ers 4–0 76ers, 2-0 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 263-202
2001–02 76ers 3–1 Tie, 1–1 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 264-205
2002 Eastern Conference First Round Celtics 3–2 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 267-207
2002–03 Tied 2–2 Tie, 1–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 269-209
2003–04 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 272-210
2004–05 76ers 3–1 Tie, 1–1 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 273-213
2005–06 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 276-214
2006–07 76ers 3–1 Tie, 1–1 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 277-217
2007–08 Celtics 3–1 Celtics, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 280-218
2008–09 Celtics 4–0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 284-218
2009–10 Celtics 3–1 Celtics, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 287-219
2010s (Celtics, 33-18)
Season Season series at Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Overall series Notes
2010–11 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 290-220
2011–12 76ers 2–1 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 1-0 Celtics, 291-222
2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals Celtics 4–3 76ers, 2-1 Celtics, 3-1 Celtics, 295-225
2012–13 Tied 2–2 Tie, 1–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 297-227
2013–14 76ers 3–1 Tie, 1–1 76ers, 2-0 Celtics, 298-230
2014–15 Celtics 4-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 302-230 Celtics record their 300th win over the 76ers.
2015–16 Celtics 4-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 306-230
2016–17 Celtics 3-1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 309-231 Celtics win 11 games in a row.
2017–18 Celtics 3–1 Celtics, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 312-232
2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals Celtics 4–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 3-0 Celtics, 316-233
2018–19 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 319-234
2019–20 76ers 3–1 76ers, 2-0 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 320-237
2020s (Celtics, 16-10)
Season Season series at Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Overall series Notes
2020 Eastern Conference First Round Celtics 4–0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 324-237 Celtics sweep 76ers in their first postseason series since 1957. 76ers fire Brett Brown following the sweep.
2020–21 76ers 3–0 76ers, 2-0 76ers, 1-0 Celtics, 324-240 76ers sweep Celtics for the first time since the 2000 season.
2021–22 Tied 2–2 Tie, 1–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 326-242
2022–23 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 329-243
2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals Celtics 4–3 Celtics, 2-1 Tie, 2–2 Celtics, 333-246 76ers fire Doc Brown after the playoff loss.
2023–24 Celtics 3–1 Tie, 1–1 Celtics, 2-0 Celtics, 336-247
2024–25
Summary of Results
Season Season series at Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Notes
Regular season games Celtics Celtics, 270-197 76ers, 129-91 Celtics, 157-56 There were 34 Neutral site games played in total. Celtics won 22 games total, Nationals/76ers won 12 games total.
Postseason games Celtics 66-50 76ers, 33-21 Celtics, 45-17
Postseason series Celtics 15-7 Celtics, 4-2 Celtics, 11-5
Regular and postseason Celtics 336-247 76ers, 162-112 Celtics, 202-73 Nationals/76ers won 12 Neutral site games; Celtics won 22 neutral site games.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Schuhmann, John. "Celtics, Sixers usher historic rivalry into new era". www.nba.com. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  2. ^ "NBA's Best Rivalries". Sports Illustrated.
  3. ^ Fenton, Jim. "Celtics vs. 76ers: Long-time rivalry about to be renewed". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  4. ^ Fenton, Jim. "Celtics-76ers rivalry enters another chapter". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  5. ^ Reveals, Abacus. "Celtics vs. Sixers: The Most Prolific Playoff Rivalry in NBA History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  6. ^ Bush, Professor. "NBA Playoffs: History of the Philly vs. Boston Rivalry". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  7. ^ "Is the Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics the best rivalry in the NBA?". www.sportingnews.com. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  8. ^ "A historical look at Sixers-Celtics rivalry". RSN. 29 April 2018.
  9. ^ Viser, Matt (June 1, 2008). "Region revs up for an East-West rivalry reborn". Boston Globe. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. The intensity of the rivalry was encapsulated in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals. The winners were to face the Lakers, and after it became clear the Celtics were going to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Garden crowd erupted into chants of, 'Beat L.A.!'
  10. ^ Kerby, Trey (June 3, 2010). "Everything you could possibly want to know about the NBA Finals". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. But that's not when the chant took off in Boston. It actually started as a chant supporting the Philadelphia 76ers.
  11. ^ Goldaper, Sam (1983-10-18). "Fights Bring N.B.A. Inquiry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  12. ^ Tuite, James (1983-10-19). "AUERBACH IS FINED $2,500 BY THE N.B.A." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  13. ^ Thomas, Mike (2020-07-05). "Larry Bird's Heated Brawl with Julius Erving in 1984 Began Innocently Enough". Sportscasting | Pure Sports. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  14. ^ Lazenby, Roland (2000). "18. NBA Season in Review". The Official NBA Encyclopedia.
  15. ^ Nathan, Alec. "Joel Embiid on Celtics: 'It's Not a Rivalry. ... They Always Kick Our Ass'". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  16. ^ Wright, Michael C. (August 23, 2020). "3 takeaways from Celtics' sweep of Sixers". NBA.com.
  17. ^ Schuhmann, John (May 15, 2023). "5 takeaways from Celtics' Game 7 clincher over Sixers". NBA.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  18. ^ Hartwell, Darren (2023-05-14). "Jayson Tatum sets NBA record with Game 7 masterpiece vs. Sixers". NBC Sports Boston. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Jayson Tatum Playoff Record Vs Embiid". StatMuse. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
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