Hold up, fam. Tonight’s exhibition game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers is shaping up to be anything but a friendly scrimmage. Why? Because Jaylen Brown, the former Celtics forward, is about to face his old squad for what could be the first time since that blockbuster summer trade to Philly. Talk about immediate drama, even in October!
The Star Power Is Unreal, But Boston’s Holding Back
The 76ers are rolling into Boston tonight with a starting five that’s absolutely stacked, and honestly, a little shocking for a preseason game. We’re talking Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, the man himself, Jaylen Brown, and then, get this: LeBron James and Joel Embiid. Yes, you read that right. LeBron James is slated to start for the Sixers! You know that’s gonna send a jolt through the league. On the flip side, the Celtics are playing it cool, just like they did in their first exhibition win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They’re sitting their starters again. That means no Jayson Tatum, no Derrick White, no Paul George tonight. Instead, Boston’s probable starters are Mike Conley, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. It’s a bold strategy, let’s see if it pays off a second time.
Early Records and a Long Injury Report
Boston is coming into this matchup with a clean 1-0 preseason record after that 124-113 road win over Cleveland on Thursday night. Philadelphia, though, is sitting at 1-1 after taking a loss to the Brooklyn Nets, also on Thursday. So, they’re looking to even things up. Both teams are also dealing with some significant names on the sidelines. For the Celtics, Sam Hauser, Ron Harper Jr., Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, Paul George, Derrick White, and Jayson Tatum are all out (Tatum is listed for rest). The Sixers aren’t much better off, with Ariel Hukporti (Achilles tendon), Adem Bona (foot), Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Tacko Fall (hip), and Dominick Barlow (back) all sitting out tonight. That’s a lot of depth missing, but it doesn’t diminish the intensity of Brown’s return.
This isn’t just another preseason game. With Brown back in Boston and LeBron rocking a Sixers jersey, you gotta tune in tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET. You can catch the action on NBC Sports Boston or stream it live on Fubo. What a way to kick off the October grind, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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