Boston is 0-0 after a 124-113 preseason win at Cleveland in which Luka Garza (22 points, 10 rebounds) and reserve Devin Carter (17 points, plus-22) carried the scoring. Tonight brings Philadelphia back to Boston with eight Celtics regulars tagged day-to-day for an estimated return today, and Jaylen Brown, now a Sixer, himself unclear to play, per MassLive.
Eight regulars share the same return date tonight.
George, Tatum, White, Hauser, Harper Jr., Robinson, Pritchard and Queta are all listed day-to-day with an estimated return of October 10 — tonight, not a date further out. The opener at Cleveland was won by reserves and two-way bodies; tonight is the first real look at how many of the eight actually suit up.
Brown's own health is the bigger unknown in this matchup.
MassLive reported that Brown gave an update following a reported injury scare with the Sixers, and separately that his availability for Saturday's game against Boston remained unresolved. Brown went to Philadelphia in the trade that brought George to Boston; if he sits, the first real look at that deal from Philadelphia's side waits until the teams meet again October 16.
The scoring in Cleveland came from players chasing roster spots, not minutes.
Garza shot 6-for-17 and Carter 5-for-9 in the win at Cleveland, a line preseason box scores rarely repeat. Carter's plus-22 and Dillon Mitchell's plus-15 were the night's best marks; Walsh, Scheierman and Conley, the three more likely to see real season minutes, finished at minus-13, minus-8 and minus-11.
The open question is how many regulars Mazzulla actually plays tonight.
Nick Nurse faces the same preseason math on the other bench, with Maxey, Edgecombe and a questionable Brown on his side. Boston's regular-season opener is October 20 at Detroit, with one more preseason game, at Charlotte on October 14, sitting between tonight and that rematch with Philadelphia.
Will Jaylen Brown play against the Celtics tonight?
His availability was unclear entering the day. MassLive reported an injury scare and said his status for Saturday's game against Boston had not been resolved.
Which Celtics are expected back tonight after sitting out the opener?
Eight regulars — Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Ron Harper Jr., Mitchell Robinson, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta — are listed day-to-day with an estimated return of today, though preseason tags do not guarantee minutes.
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