BOSTON — As the NBA playoffs return to TD Garden on Sunday, the Boston Celtics are set to host the Philadelphia 76ers in a renewed chapter of one of the league’s most storied postseason rivalries. Yet this installment carries a dramatically different tone, one defined not by familiar narratives of past dominance, but by an extraordinary comeback that has rewritten expectations for the Celtics and left Philadelphia facing an even steeper challenge.
The Celtics, projected to win fewer than 45 games entering the 2025-26 season, instead surged to the second-best record in a rugged Eastern Conference. Only the remarkable rise of the Detroit Pistons kept Boston from claiming the top seed. Now, with home-court advantage secured for the first round, the Celtics enter the series brimming with confidence — none more so than Jayson Tatum.
Tatum’s mere presence on the floor for Game 1 represents one of the most stunning developments in recent NBA history. Just 10 months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during last year’s second-round series against the New York Knicks, the 28-year-old star has defied medical timelines and conventional wisdom. What was expected to be a full-season absence became a miraculous return in March, and less than two months later, Tatum enters the playoffs declaring himself fully ready.
“I’m ready, it’s part of the progression,” Tatum said, according to Celtics Blog. “I started on a minute restriction and every couple of games it would go up as we geared up for the playoffs.”
The injury occurred at a brutal moment last May, with the Celtics already trailing the Knicks. Tatum crumpled to the Madison Square Garden floor, his season — and seemingly Boston’s title hopes — ending in an instant. The ensuing rehabilitation was grueling, filled with uncertainty about whether he would even return for this postseason. Now, that doubt has evaporated.
“I’m excited,” Tatum added when asked about his mindset heading into Sunday’s Game 1. “My perspective has changed these last 48 weeks. When I got injured, there was a lot of uncertainty. The playoffs were not a sure thing. You know, now that I get that opportunity [to play in the playoffs again], I couldn’t be more happy.”
The timing could not be more significant for the Celtics. Last year’s early exit still lingers as motivation, particularly the way the team was being outplayed by New York before Tatum’s injury. This season has offered redemption: a far better regular-season record than anticipated and visible improvement from Tatum since his return. His shooting efficiency has risen, his movement looks fluid, and the comfort level with his game has clearly returned.
That progress could not come at a better moment for Boston. The 76ers, while still dangerous, will take the floor without their centerpiece. Joel Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy last week and has been ruled out indefinitely, stripping Philadelphia of one of the league’s most dominant forces. The Sixers now lean on a well-rounded supporting cast led by dynamic guard Tyrese Maxey and veteran forward Paul George. Both will be tasked with countering Boston’s own star duo — Tatum and NBA MVP candidate Jaylen Brown — in what promises to be a compelling matchup of wings and backcourt talent.
Historically, this rivalry has tilted heavily in Boston’s favor since the early 1980s, though every series between these franchises has delivered intensity, physicality, and memorable drama. This year’s version may lack the full star power of previous clashes, but it carries fresh intrigue: a Celtics team that exceeded expectations and a Tatum renaissance that has flipped the script on what many assumed was a lost year.
Few would argue that Tatum needs to reach his highest level if Boston is to advance deep into these playoffs. The postseason intensity presents a new test after such a serious injury, yet Tatum has repeatedly proven his pedigree as one of the league’s top players. With his perspective shifted and his body responding better than expected, the Celtics enter Sunday’s Game 1 not just hoping for a strong showing, but believing they have the pieces — and the star power — to chase another championship.
The 76ers will look to disrupt that momentum with Maxey’s speed and George’s versatility, but the energy inside TD Garden will be electric, fueled by Tatum’s improbable return and a Celtics squad eager to right the wrongs of last May.
For Boston, the script has changed. For Philadelphia, the challenge has grown. The playoffs are here, and the next chapter of this classic rivalry is about to unfold.