Should the Boston Celtics want the Magic or 76ers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs?

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics are set to face either the Orlando Magic or Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Both teams have had challenging seasons, influenced by injuries, prompting discussions on which matchup would be more favorable for Boston.

Should the Boston Celtics prefer the Orlando Magic or Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs? The 2025-26 NBA regular season has ended, and with that milestones comes the league's annual play-in tournament. And with Boston locked into the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, that means they will be facing off with whatever ball club emerges from the play-in tournament game between the current seven and eight seeds. Those are the Magic and Sixers, both teams that have had rough regular season campaigns for very different reasons. Injuries factor in both, which will shape the eventual series they could play with Boston. But both also have some qualities fans of the Celtics might like to see their team avoid. The folks behind the "NBC Sports Boston" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Celtics Talk" podcast that has hosts Chris Forsberg and Kayla Burton break down the pros and cons of each potential series partner. Check it out below! Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Should Celtics want Magic or 76ers in first round of NBA Playoffs?*

Q&A

Who are the potential first-round opponents for the Boston Celtics in the 2026 NBA Playoffs?

The potential first-round opponents for the Boston Celtics are the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers.

What factors are influencing the Boston Celtics' decision on whether to prefer the Magic or 76ers?

Injuries and the overall performance of both teams during the regular season are influencing the Celtics' decision on which team to face.

What is the current playoff seeding for the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference?

The Boston Celtics are currently locked into the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Should the Boston Celtics want the Magic or 76ers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs?

TL;DR

Q&A

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