Boston confirmed there are no injuries to report for the opener, a notable contrast to a season marked by health ebbs and flows. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both healthy and ready, giving the Celtics a formidable two-way core from which to operate.
Tatum is back to full speed after missing much of the regular season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last year, and he has ramped up his conditioning ahead of the postseason. The forward’s presence, combined with Boston finishing second in the East, adds a valuable dimension to the rotation.
Brown, who shouldered a heavy load down the stretch, has also returned to practice in strong form after late-season concerns. He previously dealt with nagging issues that affected the end of the regular season and into the playoffs last year, when he played through a partially torn meniscus.
The Celtics’ durability has been a hallmark this season, with seven players appearing in more than 70 games, a factor that should support postseason consistency under coach Joe Mazzulla. Veterans such as Payton Pritchard and Derrick White will be available to contribute as well.
For Philadelphia, the matchup is tempered by the absence of Joel Embiid in Game 1, as the Sixers earned their first-round berth through the play-in tournament. Embiid’s absence is a notable disadvantage for Philadelphia, who will try to slow Boston while adjusting to life without their star center.
Game 1 is set for Sunday at TD Garden, with Boston aiming to leverage health and depth to erase last year’s second-round exit and pursue a deeper playoff run.
