Philadelphia 76ers (0-0) at Boston Celtics (0-0)Wednesday, October 22, 20257:30 PM ETRegular Season Sport #1, Dwelling Sport #1TV: NBCSB, NBCSP, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, 97.5 Fanatic, Sirius XMTD Backyard
The Celtics start the season by internet hosting one in all their oldest rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers. That is the primary of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics will journey to Philadelphia for video games on October 31 and November 11. The October 31 recreation would be the Celtics first recreation within the NBA Cup In-Season Match. The 76ers will return to Boston for a recreation on March 1.
The Celtics have been 3-1 within the preseason whereas the 76ers have been 1-3. The Celtics beat the 76ers 3-1 final season they usually have been additionally 3-1 in opposition to the 76ers within the 2023-24 season. The 76ers tanked onerous the final a part of final season and completed 24-58 whereas the Celtics completed with a 61-21 report. The Celtics are 275-197 total all time and they’re 159-57 all time at house in opposition to the 76ers.
The 76ers haven’t modified a lot since final season. They added Trendon Watford as a free agent. In addition they added Igor Milicic, Jr, who went undrafted on this yr’s draft. They added VJ Edgecombe with the third decide within the draft and Johni Broome with the thirty fifth decide within the draft. They misplaced Guerschon Yabusele, Jared Butler, and Ricky Council IV. The 76ers have a veteran core and an thrilling lottery decide and if they’ll keep wholesome, they could possibly be a very good crew this season.
The Celtics are break up about evenly between returning and new gamers. They’ve 9 returning gamers and eight new gamers on the crew this season. Gone are Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Vacation and Luke Kornet. New gamers embrace Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, Hugo Gonzalez, Luka Garza, Max Shulga, Amari Williams, and Ron Harper, Jr. The Celtics have a core of excellent gamers returning together with some younger gamers who’re excited to indicate what they’ll do. They might shock lots of people who’re counting them out this season.
After this recreation, the Celtics go on the street for 3 video games. They are going to play at New York after which at Detroit and New Orleans for his or her first again to again set this season. They are going to then return house to face Cleveland earlier than enjoying at Philadelphia for his or her first NBA Cup recreation. The 76ers will return house after this recreation to face Charlotte after which will host Orlando and journey to Washington for again to again video games. Then they host Boston on Halloween earlier than a 3 recreation street journey by means of Brooklyn, Chicago, and Cleveland.
The Celtics will start the season with out their All Star ahead, Jayson Tatum, who’s rehabbing from a torn Achilles. He’s anticipated again anyplace from the All Star break till subsequent season. Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable however since he has gone by means of a few full practices and mentioned that he feels nice, I’m anticipating him to play. If he’s out, Sam Hauser would probably begin at small ahead.
Joel Embiid returned, after being out since February, to play the ultimate preseason recreation and is anticipated to be out there for this recreation. Paul George stays out after left arthroscopic knee surgical procedure within the offseason. He’s reportedly near a return. Trendon Watford should wait to make his 76ers premiere as he’s out with a strained hamstring. Jared McCain can be out with a thumb harm.
I’ve listed Philadelphia’s starters from their remaining preseason recreation in opposition to the Timberwolves. They gained that recreation 126-110 and so I’m pondering they are going to stick to that lineup for this recreation. When he returns, Paul George will substitute Bona at energy ahead. I’ve listed the Celtics beginning lineup from their remaining preseason recreation as nicely. I’m guessing that Joe will stick to that lineup however he may change issues round since there are quite a lot of questions concerning the Celtics entrance court docket rotation.
Possible Beginning Matchups Level Guard: Payton Pritchard vs Tyrese Maxey
Capturing Guard: Derrick White vs VJ Edgecombe
Small Ahead: Jaylen Brown vs Kelly Oubre, Jr
Energy Ahead: Chris Boucher vs Adem Bona
Heart: Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid
Picture By Winslow Townson/Getty Photographs
Celtics ReservesAnfernee SimonsJosh MinottXavier TillmanJordan WalshHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaBaylon ScheiermanSam Hauser
2-Approach PlayersRon Harper, JrMax ShulgaAmari Williams
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJaylen Brown (hamstring) questionable
76ers ReservesJohni BroomeAndre DrummondJustin EdwardsEric GordonQuentin GrimesKyle LowryIgor Milicic, Jr2-Approach PlayersDominick BarlowHunter SallisJabari WalkerInjuries/OutPaul George (knee) outTrendon Watford (hamstring) outJared McCain (thumb) outHead CoachNick Nurse
Payton Pritchard vs Tyrese MaxeyMaxey averaged 18.5 factors, 2.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1 steal per recreation in 4 preseason video games. He shot 49.1% from the sphere and 36% from past the arc. He’s fast and shoots the ball nicely and so Pritchard may have his fingers full defending him. Hopefully Pritchard can go from sixth Man of the Yr to starter and excel at it.
Picture by Brian Fluharty/Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs VJ EdgecombeEdgecombe was the third total decide within the 2025 draft and performed very nicely within the preseason. Over 3 video games, he averaged 16.7 factors, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a pair of steals per recreation, whereas taking pictures 42.5% from the sphere and 25% from past the arc. I anticipate that the 76ers will as soon as once more begin him on this recreation. Hopefully. Derrick White can use his veteran wiles on the rookie to win this matchup.Honorable MentionNeemias Queta vs Joel EmbiidIn the 76ers preseason finale, Embiid performed his first recreation since February. He completed with 14 factors, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and three steals in 19 minutes of play. He shot 50% from each the sphere and on 3’s. There didn’t look like a lot rust on his recreation. The Celtics not have Al Horford to work his defensive magic on Embiid so the Celtics might want to discover one other method to sluggish Embiid down this season.
Keys to the GameDefense – Whether or not it’s the first recreation of the season or the final, protection will all the time be the important thing to profitable. The Celtics have been second within the preseason with a defensive ranking of 100.2. The 76ers have been seventeenth with a defensive ranking of 109.2. The Celtics have to preserve that defensive mindset and work onerous on that finish of the court docket in the event that they need to win this season. They don’t have as a lot firepower as they did final season and they also might want to get stops so as to beat groups.
Rebound – As with protection, rebounding will all the time be a key to profitable. Groups want the ball to attain and rebounding is an effective method to get it. The Celtics led all groups within the preseason, averaging 52.8 rebounds per recreation. The 76ers have been twenty fourth within the preseason with 42.5 rebounds per recreation. The Celtics have to proceed to crash the boards as a crew and make an effort to seize each rebound.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics have to deal with the basketball and restrict turnovers. They have been thirty first within the preseason, averaging 21.3 turnovers per recreation. Maybe that may be defined by the variety of new gamers attending to know one another, however they gained’t win many video games within the common season in the event that they flip the ball over 21 instances. They must make cautious passes and likewise bear in mind whereas dribbling and never drive right into a crowd or permit a defender to steal the ball.
Run, Run, Run – Nearly each season a coach will say that his crew goes to run and play quicker however then they don’t. Joe Mazzulla has vowed to play quicker this season and he appears to have the gamers to do it. The Celtics have been seventh in tempo within the preseason and the crew did play a lot quicker than they’ve up to now. They should proceed to run and to play quick on each possession this season.
X-FactorsFirst Sport – Each groups are enjoying of their first recreation of the season. Preseason doesn’t depend a lot as a result of the beginning lineups for each groups acquired restrict minutes on the court docket collectively. The Celtics have been off a full week whereas the 76ers have been off 5 days since their final recreation so there could possibly be some rust together with some jitters that come from enjoying as a crew for actual for the primary time.
Teaching – Joe Mazzulla is beginning his 4th season as Celtics’ head coach. He gained a title with a really proficient crew that was filled with taking pictures stars. Now he’s going to must win another way since his personnel has modified and so he should show that he can. Nick Nurse is beginning his eighth season as a head coach total and his third because the 76ers head coach. He gained a title with the Raptors in 2019. The 76ers are lastly near wholesome and so Nurse has so much to show with this crew as nicely.
