Post by Admin on Feb 25, 2023 20:10:18 GMT -5
Boston Celtics (43-17) at Philadelphia 76ers (39-19) Game #61 2/25/23
The Celtics look for their 3rd straight win over the Philadelphia 76ers this season.
By flceltsfan
Boston Celtics (43-17) at Philadelphia 76ers (39-19)
Saturday, February 25, 2023
8:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #61 Road Game #30
TV: ABC
Radio: WROR, WPEN, ESPNR
Wells Fargo Center
Saturday, February 25, 2023
8:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #61 Road Game #30
TV: ABC
Radio: WROR, WPEN, ESPNR
Wells Fargo Center
The Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers for the 3rd of 4 meetings between the two teams this season. They met in Boston on the first night of the season, October 18, when the Celtics won 126-117. They met a second time in Boston on February 8 and the Celtics won 106-99. They will meet in Philadelphia again on April 4. The Celtics are 266-195 all time overall and they are 89-127 all time in Philly. They tied the series 2-2 last season with each team winning 1 at home and 1 on the road.
The Celtics are still 1st in the East, but their lead over #2 Milwaukee has dwindled to just half a game as the Bucks have won 13 games in a row. They have a 3 game lead over Philadelphia and a 6.5 game lead over Cleveland. They also have a 1 game lead over Denver for the best record in the league. The Celtics are 19-10 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are 26-12 against Eastern Conference opponents and 8-1 against Atlantic Division rivals. They are looking for their 3nd straight win.
The 76ers are 3rd in the East, 3 games behind first place Boston and 2.5 games behind 2nd place Milwaukee. They are 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland and 8 games ahead of 7th place Miami and the play in seeds. They are 24-8 at home and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are 23-13 against Eastern Conference opponents and 7-5 against the Atlantic Division. They have won their last 5 games.
The Celtics are playing in the 2nd of 3 road games after the All Star break. They won the first game at Indiana and will finish their road trip in New York on Monday. They will then have 3 straight home games vs Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. The Sixers are playing in the 4th game of a 5 game home stand. They won the first 3 games in this home stand. They will finish the home stand against Miami on Monday and then start a 5 game road trip.
Comment: Sixers player last night vs MEM and came back to win in a competitive game that Morant struggled with his scoring getting his 1st 2pts on a steal/transition dunk coming halfway thru Q3. MEM "should have won."
Both teams are mostly healthy. The Celtics have only Danilo Gallinari (knee) on the injury list at this time. Jayson Tatum fell on his sore wrist on Thursday but hasn’t been put on the injury list because of it at this time. For the
Key Matchups
Robert Williams III vs Joel Embiid
Robert Williams III vs Joel Embiid
This is the key matchup for this game. Embiid is averaging 33.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He is shooting 53.0% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season, he averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Celtics need to contain Embiid as much as possible. He scores both inside and on the perimeter and so the Celtics need to stay with him at all times.
Marcus Smart vs James Harden
Marcus Smart vs James Harden
Harden is averaging 21.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. He is shooting 45.6% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics this season he averaged 30.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9 assists. He shot 60.7% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. It goes without saying that the Celtics will need to defend him better in this game.
Honorable Mention
Malcolm Brogdon vs Tyrese Maxey
Maxey has started 22 games for the Sixers this season but has been coming off the bench for them recently. He is averaging 19.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He is shooting 45.2% from the field and 38.4% from beyond the arc. In the first two games against Boston this season, he averaged with 13.5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. He shot 36.7% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc. He gives the Sixers energy and an offensive force off the bench.