Game 7.
It’s the best phrase in sports. And over the next two days, three Game 7s will take place to determine the winners of three first-round series in the NBA playoffs, all of which are in the Eastern Conference.
The first is Saturday, May 2, with a winner-take-all matchup between the No. 2 Boston Celtics and No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. from TD Garden in Boston.
The Celtics built a 3-1 series lead only for the 76ers, their longtime playoff rival, get even behind a lockdown defensive effort and Philadelphia’s stars rising to the occasion.
Joel Embiid, who’s looking like his old dominant self after his return from appendectomy surgery, scored 33 in a Game 5 road win. Then in Game 6, all five of the 76ers’ starters scored in double figures, with Tyrese Maxey, the series’ leading scorer, setting the pace with a game-high 30 as Philadelphia controlled the contest from start to finish.
Now, it’s back to Boston where the 76ers have had success, winning two of the three games at TD Garden. The key for the Celtics is finding their offensive rhythm and three-point shooting touch again. In their three wins, the Celtics are averaging nearly 120 points. In each of the three losses, they’ve been held under 100 points.
Boston is aiming to get to the second round for a fifth straight year, while the underdog 76ers (+7.5) seek to become the 14th team in NBA history and first since 2020 to win a series after trailing, 3-1.
The winner of the series plays the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks are the only team in the East that didn’t need seven games to clinch their first-round series after they pummeled the Atlanta Hawks in six games.
Here’s what to know about the NBA playoffs on May 2, including start time for the Celtics-76ers, where to watch, odds, an updated bracket and schedule:
NBA playoff schedule tonight, start time of the Celtics vs 76ers game
The Celtics and 76ers will play in a winner-take-all Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday, May 2, at TD Garden in Boston with tip off set for 6:30 p.m. Central time.
What channel is the Celtics vs 76ers game on tonight? Where to watch on TV, stream
Game 7 of the Celtics-76ers first-round playoff series will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
Stream Game 7 on Peacock
Celtics vs 76ers odds: Who’s favored in Celtics vs 76ers Game 7?
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
Who has advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs?
The New York Knicks are the only team in the Eastern Conference to advance to the second round as the three other series are heading to a Game 7 over the next two days. The Western Conference semifinals, on the other hand, are set after the Los Angeles Lakers completed their series with a win over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 on May 1.
Here are the teams in the second round through games on May 1:
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
NBA playoff bracket
Here’s a look at the 2026 NBA playoff bracket (all series are best-of-seven):
Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference first round
Eastern Conference semifinals
New York Knicks (3) vs. Boston Celtics (2)/Philadelphia 76ers (7)
Detroit Pistons (1)/Orlando Magic (8) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4)/Toronto Raptors (5)
Western Conference
Western Conference first round
Western Conference semifinals
NBA playoff series, scores, results
Here are the results for every NBA playoff first-round series:
Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8)
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)
New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6)
New York Knicks win series, 4-2
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (8)
Oklahoma City Thunder win series, 4-0
San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7)
San Antonio Spurs win series, 4-1
Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Minnesota Timberwolves win series, 4-2
Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5)
Los Angeles Lakers win series, 4-2
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NBA playoff schedule tonight, Celtics vs 76ers Game 7 where to watch
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
