How To Watch Celtics Vs 76ers Tonight As Playoff Race Heats Up
The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers face off tonight in a pivotal NBA playoff matchup, sparking nationwide interest in viewing options. The game tips off at 7:30 PM ET on April 25, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, with ESPN carrying the national broadcast.
This rivalry game is trending today because it could determine Eastern Conference playoff seeding with just three games left in the regular season. Both teams enter the contest with identical 52-27 records, tied for second place behind Milwaukee.
Cord-cutters can stream the game live through ESPN+, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, or Sling TV's Orange package. Local viewers in Boston (NBC Sports Boston) and Philadelphia (NBC Sports Philadelphia) can watch through regional sports networks.
The matchup features MVP candidates Jayson Tatum (Celtics) and Joel Embiid (76ers), adding star power to the high-stakes game. Philadelphia won the last meeting 112-110 on March 20, with Embiid scoring 37 points.
Ticket prices on secondary markets start at $285 for upper-level seats, reflecting strong fan demand. The Celtics lead the all-time playoff series 38-35, but the 76ers won their most recent postseason meeting in 2023.
NBA officials confirmed this will be the final regular-season meeting between the teams, making it crucial for potential tiebreaker scenarios. The league moved the game to ESPN's prime-time slot after both teams secured playoff berths last week.
Boston police announced enhanced security measures around TD Garden following last month's fan altercation during a Celtics-Heat game. The department will deploy additional officers to monitor crowds expected to exceed 19,000.
Sportsbooks list Boston as 3.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 218.5 points. FanDuel reports 72% of moneyline bets are backing the Celtics as of noon ET today.
The game's national prominence has led to watch parties from Philadelphia's Xfinity Live! to Boston's The Greatest Bar. Both venues opened reservations 48 hours early due to unprecedented demand.
