NBA Game Preview: Philadelphia Sixers (0-0) vs. Boston Celtics (0-0)

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Venue & Tipoff

Arena: TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Broadcast: NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN+

Injury Report

Boston Celtics:

Jayson Tatum (Achilles) – Out

Jaylen Brown (hamstring) – Questionable

Philadelphia 76ers:

Paul George (knee) – Out

Jared McCain (thumb) – Out

Trendon Watford (hamstring) – Out

Joel Embiid – Cleared to play after knee surgery recovery

Player Matchups

Joel Embiid vs. Kristaps Porziņģis – Embiid’s return against Boston’s stretch big will dictate the paint battle.

Tyrese Maxey vs. Derrick White – Maxey’s scoring vs. White’s perimeter defense.

Jaylen Brown (if active) vs. Kelly Oubre Jr. – Wing scoring and defensive assignments.

Bench Depth: Boston’s second unit (Simons, Pritchard, Hauser) vs. Philly’s young rotation led by rookie VJ Edgecombe.

Team Records & Recent Form (2024–25)

Boston Celtics: 61–21 overall, 39–13 in East play, 28–13 at home. Averaged 116.3 PPG, allowed 107.2 PPG (2nd in NBA).

Philadelphia 76ers: 24–58 overall, 15–37 in East play. Averaged 109.6 PPG, allowed 115.8 PPG.

Series History

All-time meetings: Over 580 games between the franchises, one of the NBA’s most storied rivalries.

2024–25 season: Celtics won 3 of 4, including two in Philadelphia. Sixers’ lone win came on Christmas Day (118–114).

Betting Trends:

Celtics 39–43 ATS last season; 37 Overs.

Sixers 29–53 ATS; 47 Overs.

Combined scoring last season: 225.9 PPG, slightly below this total.

Game Odds

Philadelphia Sixers         227.5

Boston Celtics                   – 2.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 21, 2025