The Boston Celtics are back in the "City of Brotherly Love." It's a return trip that they had hoped to avoid. However, a 113-97 defeat on their home parquet in Game 5 saved the Philadelphia 76ers' season. It gave the crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena another crack at seeing the home team get a win at their home venue.
Tyrese Maxey:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 29, 2026
"Our fans deserve a win at home. After that performance that we put on last time in front of our fans that was a disgrace and it was unacceptable" pic.twitter.com/Gugq13YzCZ
"Our fans deserve a win at home," voiced Tyrese Maxey from the podium while helping delay the Sixers' summer vacation. "We lost a tough one [in Game 3], and then got blown out of the water [in Game 4], so we deserve to go out there and fight. After that performance that we put on last time in front of our fans, that was a disgrace, and it was unacceptable. I'm planning on making sure my teammates go out there and fight, we scratch, and we claw, and we try to get that W."
If Philadelphia is successful in extending this first-round rivalry clash, then Game 7 will be on Saturday at TD Garden. As tip-off for Thursday's tilt neared, clarity regarding when that potential matchup would start arrived.
That contest, a rare home matchup Boston would rather not see, will either get underway at 1:30 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. EST, or 7:30 p.m. EST.
However, the Celtics have a chance to make history
These two rivals have squared off 10 times in the playoffs. Boston has prevailed in seven of those series. However, surprising as this may be, the franchise has never delivered the knockout blow on Philadelphia's home floor. That revelation comes courtesy of the Celtics' radio play-by-play broadcaster for 98.5 The Sports Hub, Sean Grande.
On the heels of the visitors' shootaround at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, Derrick White provided a glimpse into the team's mentality ahead of their chance to make franchise history.
"We've got an opportunity here tonight to end the series, and so we know it's gonna be a fun atmosphere, and it's gonna be a challenge," said White. "I think we've got a lot of guys that look forward to that."
The Celtics enter Game 6 against the 76ers with a 15-7 record in the 23 playoff rounds the two have gone toe-to-toe. That includes six straight series wins. Of course, that's in the rear view. For as much as remains the same, like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way for Boston, there have been significant changes to both organizations in that span. For the visitors to pull off the unprecedented, they can't rely on the comforts of past accomplishments.
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