The Philadelphia 76ers are at home to take on the Boston Celtics, looking to go 5-0 on the season. The Sixers defeated the Celtics in their season opener, 117-116, on a night when the duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 74 points. Center Joel Embiid isn't designated on the injury report and looks to be in a much better place than when he scored four points on 1-9 shooting in the opening night win. The Celtics, minus the injured Jayson Tatum, have struggled to start the season, losing to the Knicks and Pistons before winning their past two games.
Who: Boston Celtics (2-3) at Philadelphia 76ers (4-0)
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena
Watch: Amazon Prime
This year's Sixers team already feels different than in years past, and it's only been four games. The team that couldn't hold anything together in the fourth quarter last season is now dominating the period. Despite their third-quarter issues, the Sixers have been thriving in the fourth and making crucial plays throughout, which would have been unthinkable last season.
Additionally, Tyrese Maxey has stepped up to a new level with his play, leading the league in scoring and minutes per game to date. Rookie, VJ Edgecombe, has looked every bit the young superstar that no one had dreamed he'd be this early in his career. Currently, his 22.3 points per game lead all rookies, and he ranks second in the league in minutes per game. The Sixers have the top three players in minutes per game with Maxey, Edgecombe, and Kelly Oubre Jr. rounding out the third position.
Having welcomed back Joel Embiid, albeit with a minutes restriction, hasn't hurt the team as it was originally thought. The team is flying around the court, and Embiid has put himself, at least offensively, in a good position, taking the game and style as it comes to him, rather than dictating the slower pace he's used to.
While Embiid hasn't been himself defensively, Head Coach Nick Nurse has done a fantastic job inserting Andre Drummond and Adem Bona for rebounding or rim protection, later in games. Without Bona and his five blocked shots on Tuesday, the Sixers don't beat the Wizards. The team has undergone changes, and it's all been for the better; yet, they still haven't seen Paul George or Jared McCain in the lineup, which will only add to the talent they can rotate.
The Celtics are nowhere close to the team that won the NBA Championship just two seasons ago. Jayson Tatum is out for the remainder of the season, if at all this year, due to a torn Achilles, and the team traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis during the offseason. While Jaylen Brown is leading a fairly talented group, this isn't the team that's going to be competing for a title any time soon.
Despite Brown and Derrick White's best efforts, the Celtics started the season with three straight losses before grabbing two wins over the Pelicans and Cavaliers. The team moved Josh Minott into the starting lineup, and he's contributed 13 points and 11.5 rebounds in their two victories. They'll look to utilize his size and ability against the Sixers' small-ball lineups.
What Boston can't afford to do is to get into a shooting contest with the current Sixers team, who lead the league in three-point shooting and get quality shots when needed from all over the roster. The Celtics are coming in as one of the poorer shooting teams in the league and will likely struggle against the confident Sixers squad.
Center Joel Embiid has looked much more comfortable on the court since the horrible night he had against the Celtics to open the season. He increased his minutes to 23 against the Wizards and might see a slight uptick in those tonight. While Embiid is clearly no longer the defender he once was, his offense and ability to balance his style with the team's new identity have been a blessing over the first few games. After last week, expect close to 30 from the star center, who will want to show the league and the Celtics that he's not to be forgotten.
While Maxey, Edgecombe, and Oubre Jr. lead the league in minutes played, that can't hold up for the entire season. Luckily, with Paul George and Jared McCain both set to return soon, they won't need to. PG will give the Sixers the corner threes they surely lack, as well as front-court scoring, while McCain is going to turn the Sixers' backcourt into a rotation from hell for opposing teams. There won't be a minute on the floor that the Sixers won't have two outstanding three-point shooters on the floor, and the speed will be infuriating for opposing coaches and teams.
Maxey should continue his hot hand, while Edgecombe is going to excite the home crowd whenever he touches the ball. With Embiid and Quentin Grimes getting points as well, it'll all come down to Kelly Oubre Jr., who's quietly averaging 17.8 points and 6.5 rebounds on the season. With Oubre filling out the stat sheet as a starter and the fourth-quarter defense they possess, this game could get out of hand quickly as the Sixers seem to be getting better with each game.
Sixers 129 - Celtics 115
