
The Philadelphia Sixers have advanced to the first round of the playoffs after defeating the Orlando Magic. They will face the Boston Celtics on April 19, despite being without star player Joel Embiid due to surgery.
The Sixers have advanced to the first round of the playoffs.
The bad news is their reward is a date with one of the best teams in the NBA.
The Philadelphia Sixers defeated the Orlando Magic 109-97 on April 15 in the seven-vs.-eight-seed play-in game. Now they'll turn their attention to the Boston Celtics, their old rivals.
Philadelphia, which is playing without the services of big man Joel Embiid (out after emergency appendix surgery), doesn't get long to lick its wounds. The Celtics, the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, will host the first game, which will be played April 19.
Here is the entire schedule.
Embiid is out indefinitely. While it's not announced he's out for the series, he isn't expected to be ready before at least the end of the first round.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: When does the Sixers vs. Celtics start? Is Joel Embiid playing?
The Sixers will play the Celtics in the playoffs on April 19.
Joel Embiid is not playing in the playoffs due to an emergency appendix surgery.
The Sixers defeated the Orlando Magic 109-97 in the play-in game.

See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.