The Celtics and 76ers meet for the 4th and ultimate time this season. The 76ers gained the primary recreation 118-114on Christmas Day in Boston. The Celtics misplaced to the 76ers 118-114 in Boston on Christmas Day. The Celtics gained 118-110 in a rematch in Philadelphia on February 2. The Celtic gained The third assembly 124-104, as soon as once more in Philadelphia.
The Celtics are 272-198 general, all time towards the 76ers. They’re 157-57 in video games performed in Boston. The Celtics are taking part in within the second of again to again video games, taking part in the Path Blazers in Boston on Wednesday. They’re 5-4 on the second night time of again to again video games and they’re 2-2 when the second recreation is at dwelling. The 76ers are taking part in within the third recreation in 4 nights.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, and are 8 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers who’ve gained their final 12 video games, together with a win over Boston. They’re 3.5 video games forward of third place New York, and seven.5 video games forward of 4th place Milwaukee. The Celtics are 20-11 at dwelling and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 31-11 towards Japanese Convention opponents and 10-2 towards the Atlantic Division. After they misplaced 2 straight, the Celtics have gained their final 2 video games.
The 76ers are twelfth within the East, 30 video games behind 1st place Cleveland. They’re 8.5 video games behind sixth place Detroit and the ultimate assured playoff spot. They’re 2.5 video games behind tenth place Chicago for the ultimate play-in spot. They’re tied with eleventh place Brooklyn. They’re 10-19 on the street and 1-9 within the final 10 video games. They’re 14-24 towards the Japanese Convention and 3-9 towards the Atlantic Division. They’ve misplaced their final 2 video games.
The Celtics are taking part in within the third recreation of a 7 recreation dwelling stand. They misplaced the primary recreation to the Cleveland Cavaliers after which beat the Denver Nuggets on Monday and Portland on Wednesday. After this recreation towards Philadelphia, the Celtics will host Los Angeles Lakers, Utah, and Oklahoma Metropolis. After the 7 dwelling video games they may play 8 of the subsequent 9 video games on the street, together with one other journey out West.
The 76ers are taking part in of their second straight street recreation, having misplaced at Minnesota on Tuesday. They’ve one recreation at dwelling towards Utah earlier than hitting the street once more to play at Atlanta and at Toronto. Then, it’s yet one more recreation at dwelling towards Indiana. They then have a 6 recreation street journey that can take them via Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma Metropolis, San Antonio, Atlanta and New Orleans.
The Celtics have 6 gamers on the damage checklist. Jayson Tatum (shoulder) missed Wednesday’s recreation and is questionable for this recreation. I’m guessing that he’ll play. Jaylen Brown (knee) performed Wednesday, however is out for this recreation. Horford (toe) will miss this recreation together with Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis. Sam Hauser limped off the court docket on Wednesday and is questionable for this recreation. It’s powerful to foretell who will begin and who will play.
The 76ers have 7 gamers on the damage report. Six of these gamers are listed as out. Joel Embiid has been shut down for the 12 months and can miss this recreation. Eric Gordon (wrist) and Jared McCain are each out. Tyrese Maxey (again) and Kyle Lowry (hip) and Paul George (groin) are all listed as out. Justin Edwards (ankle) is questionable I’m simply guessing on the starters at this level. The Sixers could shut everybody right down to attempt to maintain their prime 6 protected decide.
Possible Celtics Starters
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Celtics Reserves
Neemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanXavier TillmanSam HauserTorrey Craig
2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonMiles Norris
Accidents/OutAl Horford (toe) outJrue Vacation (finger) out Kristaps Porzingis (sickness) out Jaylen Brown (knee) out Sam Hauser (ankle/leg) questionable Jayson Tatum (shoulder) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible 76ers Starters
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76ers ReservesAdem BonaJared ButlerLonnie Walker IV
2-Method PlayersJeff Dowtin, JrAlex Reese
Accidents/OutJared McCain (knee) outJustin Edwards (ankle) questionableEric Gordon (wrist) outKyle Lowry (hip) outJoel Embiid (knee) out Tyrese Maxey (again) out Paul George (groin) out
Head CoachNick Nurse
Key Matchups
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Jayson Tatum
Picture by Nic Antaya/Getty Photographs
Guerschon Yabusele
Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Guershon YabuseleYabusele is averaging 10.8 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and a pair of.0 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 50.9% from the sector and 40% from past the arc. In 3 video games towards the Celtics, he averaged 12.3 factors, and 6.0 rebounds, whereas capturing 50% from the sector and 44.4% from past the arc. Former Celtics all the time appear to attempt more durable towards their former group and so the Celtics should be prepared for Yabusele to have a giant recreation, particularly from the perimeter.
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Derrick White
Picture by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs
Kelly Oubre, Jr
Picture by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photographs
Derrick White vs Kelly Oubre, JrOubre is averaging 15.1 factors, 6.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per recreation. He’s capturing 47.2% from the sector and 29.2% from past the arc. In 3 video games towards the Celtics this season, he averaged 12.7 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals per recreation, whereas capturing 37.8% from the sector and 27.3% from past the arc.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection will all the time be key to profitable each recreation. The Celtics are fifth within the league with a defensive ranking of 110.0. The 76ers are twenty fifth with a defensive ranking of 115.9. The 76ers are twenty sixth within the league, averaging 109.1 factors per recreation. The Celtics are eighth, averaging 116.8 factors per recreation. The Celtics want to extend their efforts on the defensive finish much more. They must make protection their precedence for each possession of the sport as a result of that’s how they’re going to win this recreation and a 2nd championship.
Rebound – Rebounding is second to protection as the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are eleventh within the league, knocking down 44.9 rebounds per recreation whereas the 76ers are thirtieth with 39.2 rebounds per recreation. It takes effort to get rebounds and the Celtics should go all out of their effort to beat the Sixers on the boards. The Celtics additionally want to offer themselves further possessions by rebounding on the offensive finish and maintain the 76ers from getting 2nd probability factors on the defensive finish. If the Celtics wish to win this one, it’s essential that they go all out to crash the boards.
Transfer the Ball Fastidiously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball as a way to discover the most effective shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics wrestle. They’re at their greatest once they move the ball and maintain it shifting. However they must make cautious passes and never get sloppy as a result of the 76ers common 19.2 factors off turnovers per recreation (seventh).
Don’t Underestimate – The 76ers have been fairly unhealthy these days and can doubtless be sitting key gamers. They’ve quite a lot of motivation to lose in order to not lose their first spherical decide whether it is seventh or later. Nonetheless, by no means underestimate a group’s hatred of the Celtics. Evidently each group, even the tanking groups rise up to play the Celtics and provides it their greatest effort. I count on the 76ers to play laborious and provides it their greatest to attempt to beat the Celtics. The Celtics can’t take them with no consideration and wish to return in with most effort for 48 minutes.
X-Elements Residence Sport – The Celtics are as soon as once more at dwelling the place they may have the group behind them and shall be taking part in on a well-known court docket. The 76ers are 10-19 on the street up to now. Groups try to get dwelling court docket benefit for a motive and the Celtics must make the most of having the group behind them and being on their dwelling court docket. Hopefully the 76ers are distracted by journey, a lodge keep, and a hostile crowd.
Accidents and Again to Again – It’s laborious to inform who shall be taking part in and who shall be out for each groups. We might get to see quite a lot of the keep prepared crews on this one. Additionally, the Celtics are taking part in on the second night time of again to again video games whereas the 76ers are taking part in within the third recreation in 4 nights. Fatigue may come into play, particularly with so many gamers out or lower than 100% on each side.
Officiating – Officiating is all the time an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport otherwise. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house group whereas others name each side evenly. Some hand out technicals like Christmas sweet. The Celtics have to regulate to the best way the refs are calling the sport and never permit the no calls and unhealthy calls to have an effect on their concentrate on taking part in the sport.
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