The 2020 NBA playoff bracket is set in the Eastern Conference and the Celtics know who they'll face in the first round.
Boston, who have locked in the No. 3 seed in the East, will square off against the No. 6 seed Philadelphia 76ers in round one of the postseason. This is the second match-up in the playoffs between the these two teams in the last three years.
While the Sixers won their regular season series against the Celtics 3-1, Philly enters the playoffs without All-Star guard Ben Simmons -- who is sidelined after undergoing surgery to remove a loose body from his left kneecap.
Philadelphia's superstar big man Joel Embiid also injured his ankle this past Sunday in the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers and did not return, then suffered an injury to his right wrist in the Sixers' loss to the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night. Though x-rays were negative, Embiid sat out the second half and it's unlikely that he'll even play in the 76ers' seeding finale against the Houston Rockets on Friday.
The Celtics and Sixers have played each other in the playoffs 20 times with Boston winning 13 of those meetings, including the last four (2018, 2012, 2002, 1985). Boston's last postseason lost to the 76ers was in Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals, also known as the "Beat LA" game.
Former Celtics All-Star and fan favorite Al Horford, now turned Sixers' forward, is looking forward to playing against his ex-teammates, even he won't admit if he regrets signing with Philadelphia or not.
"For us, it's a great opportunity," Horford told The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn. "It's part of the business. Obviously, we've already played them plenty of times this year so that effect is out of the way, so now we can go out there and compete. It should be a fun series."The playoffs are set to tip-off on Monday and while the Miami Heat and Pacers still haven't locked in their exact seeds, they will be the No. 4 verses No. 5 match-up in the first round. Miami needs one win in its final two seeding games to officially clinch the fourth seed.
Milwaukee (No. 1) will play the Orlando Magic (No. 8) and the Raptors (No.2), who Boston could see in the second round, will face the Brooklyn Nets (No. 7).
The Celtics at 48-23 and currently on a four-game win streak in the restart, will take on the Washington Wizards (24-47) on Thursday in their seeding finale
Joel Pavón
Follow @Joe1_CSP
Photo used courtesy of The Associated Press
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