Boston routed Philadelphia 123-91 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup, continuing a troubling trend for the 76ers. Since 1982, these division rivals have met six times in the playoffs, with Boston emerging victorious each time. Philadelphia's struggle without Joel Embiid proved costly as they shot just 4-for-23 from 3-point range.

Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with a stellar performance of 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The 76ers were outplayed in nearly every category, allowing a 22-3 edge in points off turnovers. Jaylen Brown added 26 points as Boston led wire-to-wire, pushing their advantage to as many as 35 points during the dominant victory.

Philadelphia faces an uphill battle with Embiid sidelined indefinitely after an April 9 appendectomy. Their chances of extending the series and improving Embiid's odds of return grow dimmer with each defeat. The 76ers must find a way to make shots and tighten defensively to avoid falling into an insurmountable hole before their star center can potentially return.