The Philadelphia 76ers are in Boston on Saturday night to take on the Celtics in the third game of their preseason. The Celtics are coming in having defeated the Cavaliers on Thursday, 124-113, despite not playing any of their expected starters. The Sixers, meanwhile, dropped their game to the Nets, 114-108.
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (1-1) at Boston Celtics (1-0)
When: 8 p.m. EDT
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Watch: NBC Sports Boston, NBA TV
Despite getting all five expected starters into the game on Thursday, the team lost to the Nets because of poor shooting and turnovers. The Sixers turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 23 points for the Nets. It was the first preseason game for LeBron James and Joel Embiid, so there shouldn't be too much read into the stats, but it didn't look good at times.
For Philadelphia and its fans, the sight of James in a Sixers jersey, tossing chalk into the air, was more than enough. The biggest free agent to sign with the team has the whole city holding on to legitimate title aspirations this season.
The health of Embiid will be a huge focus throughout the season, as it has been his whole career, but having James and Jaylen Brown on the team, in addition to the quality depth pieces the team added throughout the offseason, should help bring some calm to the team, its players and its fans.
Despite this being Jaylen Brown's first return to the city and team he's called home for the first 10 years of his career, head coach Nick Nurse is expected to hold out his starters as they gear up for their season opener on Oct. 20 against the defending champion New York Knicks.
MORE: Sixers’ starters thrill despite sloppy loss to Nets
Despite not playing any of their starters in their preseason opener against the Cavaliers, the Celtics walked away from Cleveland with a victory against a team that played all of its expected starters. It shows the depth that the Celtics have, having added Paul George in the trade for Jaylen Brown, signed Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson, and added Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell in the draft.
The Celtics will look to improve this season, especially after an early playoff exit at the hands of the Sixers. Jayson Tatum will be returning, along with George, to a lineup that includes Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Hugo Gonzalez and Derrick White, in addition to Robinson and Conley. Depth and health are what they're expecting to boost them back toward the top of the conference.
The much-heralded return to Boston for Jaylen Brown will probably have to wait until the Sixers visit Boston on Jan. 21 of next year, as Brown isn't expected to play tonight. If Nurse chooses to rest all of the expected starters, the team will rely on exciting rookie Labaron Philon Jr., as well as recently added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Nurse has plenty of players at his disposal, despite injuries to almost everyone associated with the center position.
Tonight is a chance for the younger players and fringe roster guys to show they belong against a quality opponent. While Jabari Walker looks to continue to show that he's belonged here since last season, Justin Edwards will need a good showing for Nurse to continue to show faith in the young forward.
Expect plenty of young players, some mistakes, learning moments and surely a few boos for Brown on the sidelines.
The preseason is winding down, with the Sixers' final game against these same Celtics at home on Friday, so don't expect much tonight. Friday should be the night when the stars come out.
Boston 121, Sixers 104
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