76ers’ Nick Nurse admits guarding Celtics will be incredible challenge

The Philadelphia 76ers played a sensational game against the Orlando Magic to get past the Play-In round, and they get the opportunity to move on to play the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics. This is going to be a major challenge for head coach Nick Nurse and his players.

Nick Nurse on the Boston Celtics: "They're hard to guard, man. They got an incredible offense."

"They shoot a ton of 3s. They've got a bunch of guys that can score 1-on-1, and they'll take you deep into the paint to do it.

"It's a tremendous challenge." pic.twitter.com/PDpxNGhkA3

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) April 17, 2026

The Celtics are a motivated team that appears to be in top form. Jayson Tatum is healthy and competing after missing the majority of the season as he rehabbed from his torn Achilles. That injury was suffered in last year’s postseason against the New York Knicks, and the Celtics went on to lose that series. As a result, they failed to defend the NBA title they won in 2024.

Nurse knows the Celtics will be ready to roll when the series gets under way Sunday. “They’re hard to guard, man. They got an incredible offense,” Nurse said. “They shoot a ton of 3s. They’ve got a bunch of guys that can score 1-on-1, and they’ll take you deep into the paint to do it. It’s a tremendous challenge.”

In addition to Tatum, the Celtics will depend on MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta. However, the Sixers are coming into the series with their own stars. Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and V.J. Edgecombe are all capable to challenging the Celtics, but they are not likely to have big man Joel Embiid in the lineup for the early games in the series. Embiid has been sidelined after suffering from appendicitis and having an appendectomy.

Embiid may be able to come back later in the series, but it will be difficult to overcome the motivated Celtics.

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