Hukporti's Out for the Year, and Boston's Resting Everybody…

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 10

Ariel Hukporti's right Achilles injury is now logged as a season-long absence, not a day-to-day watch. Boston counters with six regulars — White, Tatum, George, Pritchard, Queta and Hauser — all day-to-day for rest, so tonight's rematch at Causeway Street tells you about depth, not contenders.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

How bad is the Hukporti injury, really?

Ariel Hukporti is listed Out with a right Achilles problem, with an estimated return date of October 1, 2027 — that is not a preseason tweak, it is next season. Embiid is now the only established center; Adem Bona, day-to-day with a foot issue since September 17, is the nearest backup, and nothing behind him has playoff miles.

Why is Boston resting half its roster for a preseason game?

Joe Mazzulla is sitting White, Tatum, Pritchard, George, Queta and Hauser, all logged day-to-day for rest. Boston won 56-26 last season with the league's best net rating at plus-8.3; there is no reason to risk that in an October exhibition. Philadelphia will see Boston's bench, not its ceiling.

Who fills the guard minutes now that Lowry, Beauchamp and Martin are gone?

All three left the team on September 21, and nothing has replaced them on the roster. That pushes Caleb Love, Jameer Nelson Jr. and Labaron Philon into real preseason run — Love logged 14 minutes against Brooklyn, Philon 21. Camp is the only audition they get before the opener.

When do these preseason scores actually start to matter?

They don't, not yet. Philadelphia closes out the preseason against these same Celtics on October 16, then opens the regular season October 20 at the Knicks on NBC. Tonight is roster management with a scoreboard attached — useful for rotations, meaningless for the standings that start in ten days.

The verdictHukporti's Achilles is the real injury news out of this stretch, not anything from Wednesday's loss at Brooklyn. Everything else — Boston resting starters, the guard shuffle — is preseason noise that clears by October 20.

Is Ariel Hukporti out for the whole 2026-27 season?

Effectively yes — he is listed Out with a right Achilles injury and an estimated return date of October 1, 2027.

Will Jayson Tatum or Derrick White play for Boston tonight?

No. Both are day-to-day for rest, along with Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta and Sam Hauser.