The Philadelphia 76ers head to TD Garden on March 1, 2026, to play the Boston Celtics in an Atlantic Division game that matters for both teams in the standings. Boston comes in at 39-20 and leads the division, while Philadelphia is 33-26 and trying to hold its place in the playoff race.Both teams are dealing with roster issues, which changes how this game sets up. With several key players unavailable, the focus shifts to how well each side manages its rotations and handles the minutes across the lineup.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Injury Report (March 1, 2026)
Both teams are missing important players, and that will affect how the game is played.Boston is still without Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from an Achilles tear from last season’s playoffs. He has returned to practice but has not been cleared to play. Baylor Scheierman is listed as questionable because of a thumb fracture, which puts his availability in doubt.Philadelphia also has several absences. Joel Embiid is out with a right oblique strain and is expected to miss multiple games. Johni Broome remains sidelined after undergoing a partial meniscectomy on his lateral meniscus. Paul George is unavailable as he serves a suspension.With these players out, Tyrese Maxey takes on a larger role for the 76ers, while Boston relies on Jaylen Brown to lead the scoring.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Projected Lineups (March 1, 2026)
Both teams are expected to start adjusted lineups based on who is available.
| Team | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
| Celtics | Derrick White | Baylor Scheierman (Q) | Jaylen Brown | Sam Hauser | Neemias Queta |
| 76ers | Tyrese Maxey | VJ Edgecombe | Kelly Oubre Jr. | Dominick Barlow | Andre Drummond |
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown will handle most of Boston’s offense. For Philadelphia, Maxey will control scoring and playmaking responsibilities.Head-to-Head Trends Favor BostonBoston has the edge in this matchup over time. The Celtics lead the all-time regular season series 274-200, which works out to a 57.8% win rate.Recent results also favor Boston. Over the last five seasons, Philadelphia has gone 8-12 against them. The teams have split their earlier meetings this season, but Boston has scored 112.5 points per game in the more recent matchups.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Team Performance Snapshot
Philadelphia has stayed competitive but has clear gaps in its numbers. The team scores 116.2 points per game, which ranks 20th, and allows 116.0. They rank fifth in steals at 9.2 per game and third in free throw percentage at 81.4%. Rebounding is an issue, as they rank 28th with 43.4 per game. Maxey leads with 26.5 points and 7.2 assists.Boston has been steady across its rotation. Jaylen Brown leads with 29.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Derrick White adds 13.2 points and 6.3 assists. Neemias Queta averages 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Sam Hauser contributes 11.3 points and 2.9 three-pointers per game. Even without Tatum, the team has kept its position near the top of the standings.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics Key Storyline: Maxey vs Brown Takes Center Stage (March 1, 2026)
With Tatum and Embiid out, attention shifts to Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. Both will have the ball often and set the pace for their teams.Boston has the advantage at home, but Philadelphia’s defense can create turnovers and slow the game down. Players like Neemias Queta and Kelly Oubre Jr. could have a role in deciding how the game plays out.
