Celtics
There are still six teams that could be the Celtics’ first-round opponent.
Jayson Tatum and the Celtics could face Joel Embiid and the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
The Celtics have known their top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs since March 24. Heading into the final day of the regular season, little else has been resolved in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The Bulls and Hawks are the only other teams whose seeding is locked in the East through the first 81 games of the season, holding the ninth and 10th seeds, respectively. They will face each other on Wednesday, with the winner of that match facing the loser of the match between the seventh and eighth seeds on Friday. The winner of Friday’s game will face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Beyond that, seven teams are vying for the No. 2 through 8 seed spot in the East on Sunday. After Friday’s matches, let’s look at the standings, possible seeding scenarios after Sunday’s games, and each team’s record against the Celtics this season.
1. Celtics (63-18)
2. Dollars (49-32)
3. Knicks (49-32)
4. Cavaliers (48-33)
5. Magic (46-35)
6. Pacers (46-35)
7.76ers (45-36)
8. Heat (45-36)
9. Taurus (39-42)
10. Falcons (36-45)
Milwaukee Bucks
Get the No. 2 seed with: a win against the Magic OR losses by the Knicks and Cavaliers.
Get the No. 3 seed with: a loss to the Magic, the Knicks win and the Cavaliers lose OR a loss to the Magic, the Cavaliers win and the Knicks lose.
Get the No. 4 seed with: a loss to the Magic, the Knicks win and the Cavaliers win.
Celtics record against Bucks this season: 2-2
New York Knicks
Get the No. 2 seed with: a win against the Bulls and the Bucks lose.
Get the No. 3 seed with: The Bucks win OR lose to the Bulls, the Bucks lose and the Cavaliers lose.
Get the No. 4 seed with: loss to the Bulls, the Bucks win and the Cavaliers win.
Celtics record against Knicks this season: 4-1
Cleveland Cavaliers
Get the No. 2 seed with: victory against the Hornets, defeat of the Bucks and defeat of the Knicks.
Get the No. 3 seed with: victory against the Hornets, victory for the Knicks and defeat for the Bucks.
Get the No. 4 seed with: loss against the Hornets OR victory for the Bucks and Knicks.
Celtics record against Cavaliers this season: 2-1
Magic of Orlando
Get the No. 5 seed with: win against the Bucks and Pacers win OR win against the Bucks, Pacers defeat and 76ers defeat OR defeat against the Bucks and Pacers, 76ers and Heat defeats.
Get the No. 6 seed with: victory against the Bucks, victory for the 76ers and defeat for the Pacers OR defeat against the Bucks, victory for the 76ers, defeat for the Pacers and loss for the Heat.
Get the No. 7 seed with: loss against the Bucks and victory for the Pacers OR defeat against the Bucks and victory for the 76ers
Get the No. 8 seed with: loss against the Bucks, victory for the Pacers and victory for the Heat.
Celtics record against Magic this season: 2-1
Indiana Pacers
Get the No. 5 seed with: victory against Hawks and Magic defeat
Get the No. 6 seed with: win against the Hawks and Magic, win OR loss against the Hawks, loss for the 76ers and loss for the Heat OR loss against the Hawks and losses against the Magic, 76ers and Heat.
Clinch No. 7 seeds with: loss against the Hawks, victory for the Magic and victory for the 76ers OR loss against the Hawks, defeat for the Magic and only one for the 76ers or victory for the Heat.
Get the No. 8 seed with: loss against the Hawks, loss for the Magic, victory for the 76ers and victory for the Heat.
Celtics record against the Pacers this season: 3-2
Philadelphia 76ers
Get the No. 5 seed with: victory against the Nets and defeat of the Pacers
Get the No. 6 seed with: win against the Nets, loss for Magic and victory for the Pacers OR loss against the Nets, loss for Magic, victory for the Pacers and victory for the Heat OR loss against the Nets, loss for Magic and loss for the Pacers and victory for the Heat.
Get the No. 7 seed with: win against the Nets, Magic win and Pacers win OR loss against the Nets, Magic win and Heat loss.
Get the No. 8 seed with: with defeat against the Nets and victory for the Heat.
Celtics record against the 76ers this season: 3-1
Miami heat
Get the No. 5 seed with: victory against the Raptors and losses against the Magic, Pacers and 7ers.
Get the No. 6 seed with: victory against the Raptors, defeat of the Magic, victory of the Pacers and defeat of the 76ers OR victory against the Raptors, defeat of the Magic, defeat of the Pacers and victory of the 76ers.
Get the No. 7 seed with: victory against the Raptors, victory for the Magic and defeat for the 76ers OR victory against the Raptors, defeat for the Magic, victory for the Pacers and victory for the 76ers.
Get the No. 8 seed with: loss against the Raptors OR Magic, Pacers and victory for the 76ers.
Celtics record against Heat this season: 3-0
Chicago Bulls
Locked into the No. 9 seed.
Celtics record against Bulls this season: 3-0
Atlanta Falcons
Locked into the No. 10 seed
Celtics record against the Hawks this season: 2-2
Odds to be Celtics’ most likely first-round opponent
With the uncertainty of the Eastern Conference’s No. 5-8 seeds and the element of the play-in tournament, Basketball Reference projects that a handful of teams have a good chance of being the No. 1 seed. °8. The Heat are the favorites, with a probability of 24.3% on the Basketball Reference model. This would obviously be a rematch of the last two Eastern Conference finals.
Beyond the Heat, the Bulls have the second-highest probability of facing the Celtics in the first round (20.5%), with the Hawks (19.8%) not far behind. The 76ers (13.9%), Magic (13.5%) and Pacers (8.1%) round out Basketball Reference’s projected first-round opponent for the Celtics.
Sign up for Celtics updates🏀
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox during the basketball season.
Boston
