Two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference meet again Wednesday night in Boston, as the 76ers (34-18) face the Celtics (38-16) for the first time since the NBA season opener on Oct. 18.
The Celtics won that opening game, 126-117. James Harden, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points in the contest. Six-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid posted 26 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, and five assists.
The Sixers are 14-10 on the road, good for the second-best road winning percentage (.583) in the NBA. Boston is first (18-9 away, .667). They beat the Pistons in Detroit, 111-99, in their previous game on Monday behind 16-for-37 (.432) shooting from 3-point range and 34 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists from Tatum.
As of Tuesday evening, the injury report included Joel Embiid (questionable - left foot soreness) for the Sixers, as well as the following Celtics: Jaylen Brown (probable - non-COVID illness), Robert Williams III (probable - left ankle sprain), Luke Kornet (probable - left ankle sprain), Marcus Smart (out - right ankle sprain), and Danilo Gallinari (out - left knee ACL repair).
“You do look back,” 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers said following practice on Tuesday in Camden. “It's funny, San Antonio was a little similar because we played them game two or three and then you play them again. And what's great is looking back and seeing how far you've come from the last time you've played a team. Not necessarily looking at the game. You're just really looking at your team. Defensively and offensively, what are you doing differently? What are you doing better? How much better is your execution? Then you look at the team. Boston's a team that we'll have three times, counting [Wednesday], and then hopefully in the playoffs. There's a chance that we have Boston 10 more times this year.”
After Wednesday, the regular season series shifts to South Philadelphia on Feb. 25 and April 4.
The Sixers’ last outing was a 108-97 road loss to the Knicks on Sunday evening. New York pieced together a comeback — the Sixers led 33-12 late in the first quarter — with the help of 31 combined points from reserves Evan Fournier (5-8 3fg) and Miles McBride (3-6 3fg, 5-6 ft).
Now, another big stage on the road provides an even bigger opportunity to bounce back.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Georges Niang said about this being a chance for a statement win. “I mean, you're playing the number one team in the Eastern Conference. They went to the Finals last year, they're the team that came out of the East. So of course this is a statement game.”
Wednesday is a 7:30 p.m. start in Boston.
Sunday’s Top Performances:
Six 76ers reached double figures scoring against the Knicks.
“We just want him to keep playing the way he plays,” Doc Rivers said of Tucker. “I think his value will still come more later than it is now. We all know that... We love what he's bringing to this team. This team needs toughness, this team needs defensive knowledge and talk. P.J. provides all of that for us."
Embiid extended his streak of games with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds to six straight, the longest active streak in the league and the third-longest stretch by any player this season.
76ers vs. New York Knicks: Feb. 05, 2023
1 / 6NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers moves the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 5, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
@Sixers Social:
Quote to Note:
Georges Niang on another Boston homecoming:
"It's like a blessing and a curse. You want a bunch of people to see you that have helped pave the way to get me here, but yeah, I try to tell people if my mom doesn't know your first and last name, I don't know if I can leave you a ticket. It is going to be a bunch. I haven't gotten the final count, but I'm sure I'll do that when I get on the plane. It's a blessing to have that many people come support me when I come back home."