Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward is to undergo an MRI scan on an ankle injury suffered in the closing stages of his team's win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Hayward had 12 points as the Celtics triumphed 109-101 in Game 1 of their first-round series in the NBA playoffs.

He twisted his right ankle - fortunately not the same one he suffered a gruesome injury on back in 2017 - as he tried to box out Sixers center Joel Embiid with just over three minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

As a result, Hayward will undergo a scan to ascertain the severity of the problem.

"Sprained ankle," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "Don't know the severity, but he's clearly in pain.

"It looked like it had some swelling already. That is my medical review."

Marcus Smart would be expected to replace Hayward in the starting line-up if he has to miss any time.

Jayson Tatum had 32 points and 13 rebounds – both career playoff highs - for the victorious Celtics, with Jaylen Brown adding 29 in the NBA bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

"We came out and we battled," said Brown, whose team overcame a Sixers side playing without the injured Ben Simmons.

"We were the more physical team and we came out on top. I was proud of us. We've got to keep that fight up if we want to win this series.

"Who wants it the most? Who wants to fight? That is what it comes down to.

"Experience is everything. That's the best teacher. I've been lucky enough to go to two Eastern Conference finals, so I feel like I bring a lot of experience. 

"[Tatum] also has been to a conference finals, so continue to feed that to our young guys and play like you've been here before."

Game 2 will take place on Wednesday.