loading . . . How to watch the Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers 2026 NBA Playoffs Game 1 The Celtics and Sixers will get the second day of playoff action underway on Sunday afternoon.
Day 1 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs is in the books; now, attention turns to the other teams still remaining in the postseason. The action will get underway on Sunday, April 19, when the No. 2 Boston Celtics welcome the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers to the TD Garden. The game is scheduled to tip at 1 p.m. ET and will air on ABC . If you are looking for a live TV streaming service to watch the game, but don’t want to get roped into a month-long contract, we recommend streaming it with a one-day pass to Sling TV . You can also stream it on ESPN Unlimited .
How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Stream: Watch with a 21-day free trial to YouTube TV or via ESPN Unlimited .
From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN .
Everything you need to know to stream Celtics vs. 76ers:
How to watch Celtics vs. 76ers What is the Celtics vs. 76ers schedule? Why we recommend YouTube TV Can you watch Celtics vs. 76ers for free? Watch a preview of Celtics vs. 76ers What streamers can you use to watch the game? How to watch from anywhere
Free Trial
$67.99+ / month tv.youtube.com
New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.
What is the schedule of the Celtics vs. 76ers 2026 NBA Playoffs series?
Date
Game
Time (ET)
Matchup
Outlet(s)
Sunday, April 19
Game 1
1 p.m.
76ers at Celtics
ABC , ESPN Unlimited
Tuesday, April 21
Game 2
7 p.m.
76ers at Celtics
NBC , Peacock
Friday, April 24
Game 3
7 p.m.
Celtics at 76ers
Prime Video
Sunday, April 26
Game 4
7 p.m.
Celtics at 76ers
NBC , Peacock
Tuesday, April 28
Game 5^
TBA
76ers at Celtics
TBA
Thursday, April 30
Game 6^
TBA
Celtics at 76ers
TBA
Saturday, May 2
Game 7^
TBA
76ers at Celtics
TBA
^=if necessary
Why we recommend watching Celtics vs. 76ers on YouTube TV
YouTube TV takes our top spot for Celtics vs. 76ers because the biggest live TV streaming service on the market is currently offering an incredible 21-day free trial , which is long enough to allow you to watch the first few rounds of the NBA Playoffs without having to pay a penny.
Then, after the three-week trial is over, you can get your next two months for just $60 per month, which is 28% off the normal total of $83 monthly. Now, keep in mind that it does not appear to be available to all customers. So, it is definitely worth investigating, especially since YouTube TV carries all of the channels covering the tournament in its base package, as well as local channels in nearly every market. But realize that the free trial period offered to you could be considerably shorter than a full three weeks.
Free Trial
tv.youtube.com
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $67.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.
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Sports are a major focus for YouTube TV, with access to national and regional coverage, league networks, and marquee events. The service also serves as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, available as an add-on, giving fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. In February 2026, it was announced that YouTube TV would also offer small, niche plans geared toward sports, news, and entertainment .
YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing subscribers to record as many shows as they want and keep recordings for up to nine months. The service is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, and web browsers. New subscribers can typically start with a free trial, though the length of the trial may vary by promotion.
With its broad channel lineup, strong sports offerings, unlimited DVR, and wide device support, YouTube TV remains one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services for viewers who want a traditional TV experience without a cable contract.
Free Trial
$67.99+ / month
tv.youtube.com
New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.
If you try the YouTube TV, but aren’t satisfied with your free-trial offer, then Sling TV might be a better fit. Its Orange package includes ESPN and ESPN2, which will cover nearly all of the remaining games in the women’s tournament. The Orange plan starts at $46 per month normally, but with a limited-time discount, you can get it 50% off for one month, lowering the price to $23. Then, the Sports Extra will cost another $11, bringing your total up to $34, the cheapest option to stream the tournament.
The one downside to this option is that Sling does not carry ABC in every market across the country. And since the national network will broadcast the entirety of the NBA Finals, it will be important that you confirm ABC is available in your area before signing up.
In what markets does Sling TV provide ABC?
ABC market
Channel call sign
Chicago
WLS
Fresno
KFSN
Houston
KTRK
Los Angeles
KABC
New York
WABC
Philadelphia
WPVI
Raleigh-Durham
WTVD
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
KGO
Save with Sling
sling.com
Sling TV
Sling TV is The Streamable’s choice for cord cutters on a budget. Sling is a live TV streaming service with multiple channel packages. The $45.99/month Sling Orange plan offers about 30 channels, including Disney Channel and ESPN . The $45.99/month Sling Blue plan offers about 40 channels, including ABC , Fox , and NBC in major markets.
You can combine Orange+Blue for a total of $60.99 / month. Sling also offers many channel add-on packages starting at $6/month.
Save with Sling
$4.99+ / month
sling.com
Can you watch Celtics vs. 76ers for free?
If you are just looking for a streaming service to watch this specific game and nothing else, there are options available for you. DIRECTV , Hulu + Live TV , and YouTube TV all offer free trials, but they vary in length, so be wary. DIRECTV’s industry-leading trial runs for five days, while Hulu + Live TV’s is a solid three days.
The YouTube TV trial is a bit more difficult to nail down. The world’s largest live streamer is currently advertising a 21-day free trial, but our investigating indicates that it is not available to all users, and that some consumers only get an offer of two free days. So it is difficult to ascertain what you are actually getting before you go through the signup process. But for three free weeks of service, it is probably worth jumping through a few hoops.
So, if you are looking to watch the game and as much of the playoffs for free as possible, I would recommend giving YouTube a shot, and see if you can capitalize on its three-week free trial offer.
DIRECTV
Fubo
Hulu
Philo
Sling TV
YouTube
Free Trial
Free Trial
Free 3-Day Trial
Free Trial
Save with Sling
Free Trial
$14.99
$14.99
$28.99
$25
$4.99
$9.99
$14.99
$19.99
$29.99
$45.99
$45.99
$67.99
ABC
+ $50
+ $70
+ $61
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Watch a preview of Celtics vs. 76ers
What are all of the streamers you can use to watch the Celtics vs. 76ers game?
Fortunately for sports fans, numerous different streaming services will stream the game, so you have options to choose from if you don’t already subscribe to any of them. We discussed Sling TV and the free trial options above, but there is one more, and it offers a different type of streaming arrangement.
In addition to the live TV streaming options, since the game is being broadcast on a channel that is part of the ESPN family of networks, there is one more choice. ESPN Unlimited can be used to stream all the NBA and NHL Playoffs games appearing on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 for $30 per month.
Sign up
espn.com
ESPN
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025 . For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.
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The service is available in two tiers: ESPN Select, which includes everything offered on ESPN+, such as over 32,000 live events annually, studio shows, and on-demand replays; and ESPN Unlimited, which unlocks all ESPN linear channels — including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN on ABC — plus ESPN+ and ESPN3, totaling around 47,000 live events each year. Both plans may be purchased monthly or annually.
Subscribers can enjoy extensive coverage of the NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, UFC, soccer, tennis, and more, as well as original programming, studio shows, and “30 for 30” documentaries. Starting in 2026, the platform will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home for WWE’s premium live events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble.
NFL Network and NFL RedZone are also included through a partnership between the NFL and ESPN, adding draft coverage, preseason games, and NFL+ Premium features. The enhanced ESPN app will feature Multiview for watching multiple games simultaneously, real-time stats, betting and fantasy tools, personalized highlight reels, and even e-commerce options for tickets and merchandise.
Viewers can subscribe directly or bundle ESPN Unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99 monthly in the first year. With its robust live sports lineup, premium features, and the convenience of streaming anywhere, ESPN’s new service is a must-have for die-hard sports fans looking to cut the cord without sacrificing coverage.
Sign up
$12.99+ / month
espn.com
How to watch Celtics vs. 76ers from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the game as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action, no matter where you are in the world, with a VPN . A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming like Sling TV in order to stream the game with a VPN.
ExpressVPN is one of the best providers around , at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get a month of service for as little as $5. ExpressVPN is the most-trusted VPN on the market and comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, best-in-class encryption, 24-hour live support, and the best speeds available.
Sign Up
$2.44 / month expressvpn.com
24 Months + 4 Months Free
While ExpressVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
Most Secure: NordVPN | Starting at $3.09 per month
Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available https://thestreamable.com/how-to-watch-boston-celtics-vs-philadelphia-76ers-2026-04-19
