TODAY’S SPORTSTAT — Is yet another Celtics-76ers matchup in store?

By JERRY TAPP

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers each won Game One in their NBA playoff series. Should they continue and win their first-round series (Boston over Milwaukee and Philadelphia over Miami), the Celtics and 76ers would meet in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. What makes that potential matchup noteworthy is that Boston-Philadelphia matchups in the NBA playoffs are the most frequent NBA playoff matchups in NBA history.

Since the league began, the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers franchises have met 20 times in the NBA playoffs, most of any matchup in league history. The two teams have played 100 playoff games and the Celtics have won 12 of the 20 series. The two teams, however, have not met in the post-season since 2012.

Here’s a look at the NBA playoff series matchups that have happened 10 or more times in league history.

Number of times franchises have faced each other in NBA playoffs (franchises are listed below by current city)

20: Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers

15: Boston Celtics-New York Knicks

12: Atlanta Hawks-Boston Celtics
12: Boston-Los Angeles Lakers

12: Detroit Pistons-Los Angeles Lakers
12: Los Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns
12: Los Angeles Lakers-San Antonio Spurs

11: Los Angeles Lakers-Sacramento Kings
11: Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trailblazers

10: Atlanta Hawks-Los Angeles Lakers
10: Golden State Warriors-Philadelphia 76ers
10: New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers
10: Phoenix Suns-San Antonio Spurs

Of the current eight first-round playoff series, the Boston-Milwaukee matchup has been the most frequent; these two franchises are playing in the post-season for the sixth time in league history.

At the other end, the New Orleans-Portland series is the first time these franchises have ever faced each other in the playoffs.

 

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