Wilt Chamberlain (#13 of the Philadelphia 76ers), being defended by Bill Russell (#6 of the Boston Celtics). Counting the playoffs, Russell played the 76ers 183 times, the most games by a player against a team in NBA history.[1]
The Syracuse Nationals and Boston Celtics played in the Eastern Division in the 1950s. The Nationals beat the Celtics in three straight playoff series in 1954, 1955, and 1956, winning the NBA Championship in 1955. After the 1956 season the Celtics traded for Bill Russell and drafted K.C. Jones, both of whom starred and won Championships at the University of San Francisco. Also adding Tom Heinsohn with a territorial pick, the Celtics would win their next three playoff series against the Nationals in the playoffs (1957, 1959, and 1961) before the Nationals were sold and moved to Philadelphia.
In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers, renewing the basketball rivalry between Philadelphia and Boston (from when the Warriors had been in Philadelphia). Shortly after the All-Star break in 1965, the Sixers acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the Warriors, bringing the Chamberlain/Russell matchup back into the rivalry as well.
The Celtics and Sixers met in the Eastern Conference Finals that season with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. The series went the distance, with Game 7 being held at the Boston Garden. With 5 seconds left and Boston leading 110–109, Russell tried to inbound the ball when it hit a guy wire that supported the backboard, which resulted in a turnover. However, the Sixers failed to capitalize when Celtics forward John Havlicek deflected the inbound pass to Sam Jones, who ran out the clock. The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games for their seventh straight title.[9]
In the 1966 season, the Sixers looked poised to end Boston's 7-year reign as NBA Champions; Philadelphia won the regular season series against Boston 6–4 and finished 55–25 to beat out the Celtics by one game and win the number one seed in Eastern Division. Chamberlain also won the MVP over Russell, who had won three of the previous four awards. When they met in the Conference Championship however, Boston defeated Philadelphia 4–1 and went on to win their eighth straight NBA Championship.
The next year the Sixers brought in Alex Hannum as head coach. Hannum had also coached the Bob Pettit-led St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA Championship-the last year someone had defeated the Celtics in the championship. The Sixers went a then-NBA record 68–13 while the Celtics were 60–21. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sixers overpowered Boston, beating them in five games and ending Boston's eight-year reign as NBA champions. The Sixers won the NBA Championship by beating the San Francisco Warriors in six games, giving the Sixers and Chamberlain their first title. The 1966–67 76ers were voted in 1980 as being the greatest team in the history of the NBA to that point.
In 1968, the Sixers finished 62–20, eight games above Boston, and Chamberlain won his third consecutive MVP award. Both teams met in the Conference Championship again, and the Celtics won the Series in seven games after trailing 3–1, and went on to win the 1968 NBA Championship. After the season, 76ers head coach Alex Hannum left the NBA for the ABA in order to move closer to his family on the West Coast, and Chamberlain requested a trade, and was traded to Los Angeles.
Without Wilt, the Sixers managed a 55–27 record. Though Philadelphia again won the regular-season series against the Celtics, they were no match for Boston in the playoffs and lost 4–1. The Celtics went on to win the championship, their 11th in 13 seasons. After this season, Russell retired and both teams would not meet in the playoffs until 1977. The only two years Russell's Celtics did not win the championship, they lost to teams coached by Alex Hannum.
The Sixers slumped until acquiring Julius Erving before the 1977 season. They became a contender in the East, and in Erving's first season with the team, the Sixers eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics in a tough seven-game Eastern semifinals in 1977. Boston slumped for the next two seasons while Philadelphia continued to be a strong team in the NBA, but in 1978, the Celtics drafted Indiana State forward Larry Bird in the hope of reviving their glory years as a franchise. Bird joined the team for the 1980 season and his impact was immediate. The Celtics improved from a 29–53 record in the 1978–79 season to a league-best 61–21 record in 1979–1980, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals that season to face the Sixers. The Sixers beat Boston in 5 but failed to win the title against the Lakers.
The next season, both the Celtics and the Sixers finished with the best record in the NBA at 62–20, but Boston held the tiebreaker in the ranking. In a classic 7-game Eastern Finals, the Celtics beat the 76ers in 1981 4–3, coming all the way back from a 3–1 deficit to win the next 3 games in classic finishes. The Celtics won Games 5 and 6 by 2 points each and the seventh game by 1 point, 91–90, coming back from a 7-point deficit with a few minutes left to win on a Larry Bird banker from the left side with barely a minute left. The Celtics then defeated the Houston Rockets on their way to their first title in 5 years. For the 1981–1982 season, the Celtics again had the best record in the NBA at 63–19, followed by Philadelphia at 58–24, with one of the Sixers' key victories in the regular season being a win in Boston to snap the Celtics' 18-game winning streak. In the 1982 Eastern Finals, Boston attempted to come back from a similar 3–1 predicament and managed to extend the series to seven games, with the seventh game playing in raucous Boston Garden. However, Philadelphia had the last laugh, winning Game 7. In that finale, as Boston fans saw their team losing, in a show of respect, they congratulated the Sixers by shouting the now-famous "Beat L.A." chant as the Sixers were about to face the well-rested Lakers.[10][11] In the end, however, the weary Sixers couldn't keep up, losing to the Lakers in the Finals.
The next season, the Sixers picked up MVPMoses Malone from the Houston Rockets. Malone repeated as the MVP and led the 76ers to an NBA Championship in a 4-game sweep against the Lakers. With the Bucks sweeping Boston, it made the Sixers' title run much easier.
The "highlight" of this era of the rivalry was a 1983 exhibition game that featured 3 separate fights: Moses Malone/Cedric Maxwell, Larry Bird/Marc Iavaroni, and Gerald Henderson/Sedale Threatt.[12] During Bird/Iavaroni, Bird ripped 76ers coach Billy Cunningham's sports jacket in half. The fight was reaching a peak when 66-year-old Red Auerbach came down from the stands to restore order. For his actions, Auerbach was fined $2,500 by the NBA.[13] There was also a memorable 1985 choking match between Bird and Erving.[14]
Since 1984, the only times the two teams met in the playoffs were in 1985, 2002, 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2023. Though the 1983–84 season saw the Celtics win the title and the Sixers upset in the first round by the New Jersey Nets, the Sixers had a measure of satisfaction in the regular season by winning 4 of their 6 regular season games versus Boston, the only time the Sixers managed to win the regular season series versus Boston in the Larry Bird era. Charles Barkley joined the Sixers for the 1984–85 season, and the 1985 Eastern Final series was the Sixers' last conference final until 2001. In the 1985 Finals, they lost to Boston in five games after Boston had won the first 3 games, including a third game in Philadelphia where Julius Erving was uncharacteristically booed by the home crowd for his poor play. Game 5 saw Larry Bird pick off Andrew Toney with a few seconds left and Boston up by 2, then dribble up court to preserve the Celtics' close victory, reminiscent of John Havlicek's series-clinching steal in 1965.
After the 1985 playoffs, the rivalry would die down. Bird and the Celtics would win one more championship in 1986, but the Sixers would not reach another conference finals until 2001. The Sixers saw a steep decline through the rest of the '80's, trading Malone and Cheeks along with the retirements of Erving and Toney. Charles Barkley emerged as the Sixers new leader and a prominent NBA superstar, however he was not able to get the team past the second round. Though considered an MVP candidate in his prime, the Sixers traded him in 1992 and went through a period of rebuilding.
After winning the championship in 1986, the Celtics also began a decline that started with tragedy. Two days after they drafted him in the 1986 draft, Len Bias died of a drug overdose. Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack in his prime in 1993. The Celtics then missed the playoffs in 1994, and did not post a winning record until the 2001–02 season.
Despite the 90's being a period of stagnation for both teams, it did produce some key developments. Allen Iverson was drafted by the 76ers as the first overall pick in the 1996 draft, and the Celtics would draft Paul Pierce two years later. Both players would become superstars in the league and lead their respective team into the playoffs numerous times.
In 2002, the Celtics, in their first appearance since 1995, won the first round meeting 3–2 over the defending conference champion 76ers. That series featured the scoring exploits of Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce.[15]
The two teams met again in the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the Celtics won 4–3. The fourth-seeded Celtics defeated the eighth-seeded Sixers in a tight, back and forth series.
The teams met again in the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals as both team advanced from the first round lead by their new draft pick Jayson Tatum from Celtics with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid from 76ers, respectively. The Celtics won 4–1, and Joel Embiid afterwards remarked "This is not a rivalry, I don't know our record against them, but it's pretty bad. They always kick our ass."[16]
The teams met again in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals and, despite the 76ers being up 3–2 going into game 6, the Celtics managed to come back and won 4–3.[18] The series was highlighted by Jayson Tatum's 51 points in Game 7 of the series. His 51 points are the most in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history, surpassing the previous mark by Stephen Curry (50 points), who had already held the record two weeks earlier.[19]
Boston sportswriters dubbed Sixers' shooting guard Andrew Toney "The Boston Strangler" because of his ability to take control of games against the Celtics. He is remembered for scoring 25 points against Boston in the fourth quarter on March 21, 1982, at the Philadelphia Spectrum. It is still the Sixers' team record for most points scored in a quarter. He also scored a team-high 33 points in the classic Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Finals in Boston (the famous "Beat LA!" game), leading the Sixers to the Finals and avoiding a second straight meltdown in the Eastern Finals versus Boston. Andrew Toney's ability to have big scoring games in the playoffs versus the Celtics was one of the reasons for the Celtics in acquiring defensive ace and Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson from the Phoenix Suns prior to the 1983–84 season, and Johnson would go on to have several great seasons with the Celtics, winning two titles with them in 1984 and 1986.
Only season in NBA history to use round-robin playoff format. Nationals (4–0) and Celtics (2–2) finish above the New York Knicks (0–4), setting up an Eastern Division Finals postseason series.
Both neutral site games were played at Madison Square Garden (III). Nationals win the Eastern Division. Nationals finish tied for the best record in the league (43–29).
Bill Russell makes his debut for the Celtics. Celtics win the Eastern Division for the first time. Celtics finish with the best record in the league (44–28).
6th postseason series. First postseason series in the rivalry to go to game 7. This is the last time the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers) held the overall series record over the Celtics. Celtics go on to win 1959 NBA Finals.
On March 3, 1960, Nationals beat the Celtics 149–108, their largest victory over the Celtics as a Syracuse team with a 41-point differential and second largest victory overall against them. Celtics win the Eastern Division. Celtics finish with the best record in the league (59–16). Celtics win 1960 NBA Finals.
Last season where the Syracuse Nationals played as a Syracuse team. On January 19, 1963, Nationals beat the Celtics 149–148, their most points scored against the Celtics as a Syracuse team. It also was the most points the Celtics scored against the Nationals/76ers in a game overall. Celtics win the Eastern Division. Celtics finish with the best record in the league (58–22). Celtics win 1963 NBA Finals.
Syracuse Nationals relocate to Philadelphia and are renamed to the Philadelphia 76ers. Celtics record their 100th win over the 76ers. Celtics win the Eastern Division. Celtics finish with the best record in the league (59–21). Celtics win 1964 NBA Finals.
76ers acquire Wilt Chamberlain after the All-Star weekend. Celtics win the Eastern Division. Celtics finish with the best record in the league (62–18).
Neutral site game was played at Onondaga War Memorial. 76ers win the Eastern Division for the first time as a Philadelphia team, snapping the Celtic's nine consecutives divisional titles. 76ers finish with the best record in the league (55–25).
On October 29, 1966, 76ers beat the Celtics 138–96, their largest victory overall against the Celtics with a 42-point differential. 76ers record their 100th win over the Celtics. Last season 76ers played at Municipal Auditorium. 76ers win the Eastern Division. 76ers finish with the best record in the league (68–13).
10th postseason series. First NBA playoff series to reach 10 occurrences. First time 76ers win a postseason series against the Celtics as a Philadelphia team. With the victory, 76ers snap Celtics' record-breaking eight consecutive NBA titles and ten consecutive NBA Finals appearances. 76ers go on to win 1967 NBA Finals.
76ers open up The Spectrum. 76ers win the Eastern Division. 76ers finish with the best record in the league (62–20). Last season Wilt Chamberlain played for the 76ers.
11th postseason series. First time road team has the better record in a postseason series. Celtics go on to win 1968 NBA Finals. Last postseason series Wilt Chamberlain played as a 76ers.
12th postseason series. 76ers and Celtics meet in the playoffs five consecutive times. Celtics go on to win 1969 NBA Finals. Bill Russell retires the following season.
On March 6, 1970, 76ers beat the Celtics 150–134, their most points scored against the Celtics in a game. 76ers finish with a winning record in Boston in the regular season for the first time since the 1949 season and the first time as a Philadelphia team. 76ers or Celtics did not reach the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1956 Finals.
Neutral site game was played at Hersheypark Arena, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Celtics sweep the 76ers for the first time. Celtics win the Atlantic Division for the first time.
Last season the rivalry is played at a neutral site. On March 16, 1974, Celtics beat the 76ers 146–127, setting a record for most points scored against the 76ers that resulted in a win. Celtics win 20 games in a row against the 76ers. Celtics win the Atlantic Division. Celtics win 1974 NBA Finals.
17th postseason series. 76ers and Celtics meet in the Eastern Conference Finals four times in six years. Celtics go on to lose 1985 NBA Finals, their first NBA Finals loss since 1958
Celtics open up Fleet Center (now known as TD Garden). Celtics sweep the 76ers for the first time since the 1972 season. Last season 76ers played at CoreStates Spectrum (previously known as The Spectrum).
76ers open up CoreStates Center (now known as Wells Fargo Center). 76ers finish with the better record in Boston for the first time since the 1983 season.
76ers record their 200th win over the Celtics. 76ers sweep the Celtics for the first time since the 1977 season. 76ers win the Atlantic Division. 76ers lose 2001 NBA Finals.
On February 15, 2022, Celtics beat the 76ers 135–87, their largest victory against the 76ers with a 48-point differential. Celtics win the Atlantic Division. Celtics lose 2022 NBA Finals.
Dolph Schayes scored the most points in this rivalry. His 152 games against Boston are the most by a single player against a single team in the regular season.[20]
^Viser, Matt (June 1, 2008). "Region revs up for an East-West rivalry reborn". Boston Globe. p. A1. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. The intensity of the rivalry was encapsulated in the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals. The winners were to face the Lakers, and after it became clear the Celtics were going to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Garden crowd erupted into chants of, 'Beat L.A.!'
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