The Celtics beat the 76ers 144-106 on Oct. 10 and face Philadelphia again tonight, their last tune-up before the Oct. 20 opener at Detroit. Last season's most efficient five-man lineup, built around Jaylen Brown, no longer plays in Boston — he's the return piece now wearing Philadelphia colors.
Boston closed its home preseason slate with its most balanced night yet.
The 114-93 win over Charlotte on Oct. 14 ran through Tatum's 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, Derrick White's 17 points and 4 steals, and a bench that outscored the starters, 53 to 55, with Sam Hauser at plus-23 and Payton Pritchard at plus-19 in their minutes.
Tonight's trip to Philadelphia is a rematch before it is anything else.
Boston already beat this 76ers team 144-106 on Oct. 10, and tonight's game, on NBA TV, is the last preseason outing before the Oct. 20 opener at Detroit. Philadelphia's own injury list is heavy: rest for Joel Embiid, a hamstring for Anfernee Simons, a back for Dominick Barlow, a foot for Adem Bona, and Ariel Hukporti out with an Achilles.
Last year's most efficient lineup in Boston no longer exists in Boston.
Brown-White-Queta-Pritchard-Hauser posted a plus-17.9 net rating over 35 games and 200 minutes last season, the best five-man mark on the roster. Brown is now the return piece Philadelphia got for Paul George, and tonight puts a number on what, if anything, replaces him.
The questions four days from the opener are about depth, not stars.
Luka Garza has been cleared of the nose issue that briefly sidelined him, and no new name has joined the injury list since. Three preseason games in, the bench's production is the figure still waiting to be tested once the record starts counting.
Did the Celtics already play the 76ers this preseason?
Yes. Boston won 144-106 at home on Oct. 10, and tonight's game in Philadelphia is the rematch.
Is Jaylen Brown playing for the 76ers now?
Yes. Boston sent Brown to Philadelphia this offseason in the trade that brought Paul George to the Celtics.
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