Celtics vs 76ers

Philadelphia opens the 2022-23 NBA season against the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston, which is facing plenty of questions ahead of Tuesday's ...

The 76ers covered in three of four meetings when these teams met last year, and they pose a serious matchup issue down low for a thin Boston frontcourt. The Celtics had the answers to such an attack last year behind their ultra-switchable rotation, but what version of this team will we see this year? He feels like the missing piece in the backcourt that this team has sought for years to pair with Embiid, even if Harden isn’t at 100% of what we expected at last year’s deadline. There was a moment last year, however brief, that the 76ers looked like the best team in the NBA. Yet the roster is as healthy on Tuesday as it’ll be all season, and that’s a problem for opposing teams. The encore starts Tuesday in a showdown with, fittingly, the reigning East champion and preseason title favorite Celtics, who have plenty of their own questions entering the 2022-23 season.

The NBA is back as the Boston Celtics open up the 2022-23 season against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tuesday night's game will air on TV via TNT.

[Sling](https://www.sling.com/) [WatchTNT](https://www.tntdrama.com/watchtnt) [Boston Celtics](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/) open up the 2022-23 season against the [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/jayson-tatum-eager-for-celtics-opener-against-76ers-its-like-the-first-day-of-school.html). But now the team will look to prove that last year’s NBA Finals run is no fluke as [Jayson Tatum](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/why-jayson-tatums-ejection-bothered-celtics-star-in-montreal-preseason-game.html), [Jaylen Brown](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/jaylen-brown-explains-why-celtics-are-picking-up-where-they-left-off.html), [Marcus Smart](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/celtics-injury-report-marcus-smart-malcolm-brogdon-fine-after-slight-scares.html) and the rest of a highly rated Celtics team return to the court. On the other side, the 76ers will be looking to move forward with their new core of [Joel Embiid](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/04/joel-embiid-injury-sixers-big-man-out-indefinitely-after-suffering-orbital-fracture-mild-concussion-report.html) and [James Harden](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/07/why-james-harden-deal-with-sixers-matters-for-celtics-contending-chances-in-the-present-and-future.html). Philadelphia went 6-10 in Atlantic Division play and 27-14 on the road last season. The game will air on TV via TNT. Tuesday night’s game will also feature ceremonies [honoring late Celtics legend Bill Russell](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/what-jayson-tatum-celtics-said-about-honoring-bill-russell-on-opening-night.html), who died on July 31. [Ime Udoka](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/09/ime-udoka-faces-celtics-suspension-for-improper-consensual-relations-with-staffer-report.html) suspended for the season and a number of wild offseason changes. Fans can watch the game for free by signing up for a trial of [DirecTV](https://www.directv.com/stream/). What TV channel will it air on? 76ers game](https://www.directv.com/stream/)

Although preseason doesn't count for anything, the Sixers were happy to go unbeaten in matchups against the Hornets, Cavaliers, and the Nets. Now, they are ...

The Celtics will look to begin defending their conference title on Tuesday. After the Sixers fell short to the Last season, the Sixers and the Celtics split their regular season series. Both teams split a game in Philadelphia to end the regular season series 2-2. From summer workouts in Los Angeles to a week-long training camp in Charleston, the Sixers have done all they could to build optimal chemistry before the games begin. Throughout the summer, the Sixers have prepared a ton for their 2022-2023 run.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from 76ers vs. Celtics on Tuesday. Catch up on the action right here.

4:30 p.m. - Time: 7:30 p.m. Celtics will tip off around 7:30 p.m. The game will be played at the TD Garden in Boston. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $46/month. Viewers can also stream the game on Watch TNT or Sling TV. Celtics will air on TNT. Harden sinks all three freebies to cut into the deficit. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown has a team-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting. James Harden drains the technical free throw to bring his total to 23 points on the night. An and-one opportunity from Grant Williams puts the Celtics up 114-102 with 6:35 remaining in regulation. Led by interim head coach Joe Mazzulla, Boston played off of the momentum of its home crowd en route to a 126-117 victory over the 76ers.

Former Miami Heat veteran PJ Tucker will face the Celtics while playing with the Sixers on Tuesday.

Instead, the first set of games will allow the Sixers to figure out where they need to improve as a team. “It’s gonna be exciting — it’s good for the fans. “New season, new team.” Would the veteran feel differently if he was still a part of the Heat organization? The Heat and the Celtics needed seven games to settle the series. For the second-straight season, Tucker appeared in the Eastern Conference Finals. As the Heat finished the year 53-29, they locked in the East’s first seed.

Jayson Tatum and the Celtics squared off against Joel Embiid and the 76ers to open the season on Tuesday in a contest between contenders.

It’s like we’re in a relationship, and we’re all on the same page and trying to accomplish the same thing. They made it a point to play fast throughout the preseason, and they reaped the rewards against a Sixers team that isn’t always known for its ability to get back. And in the light of Bill Russell, here on our home floor, it was special.” His presence makes the Celtics’ second unit incredibly dangerous, and lineups with Brogdon, Tatum, and Brown have the potential to be explosive. If there’s a complaint to be had about Tuesday’s game, it’s that the Celtics — predictably, given their personnel — struggled on the defensive glass against the enormous Sixers star, but Vonleh is best known for his ability to gobble up rebounds on both ends, and he was very playable in the final two quarters. The Celtics even limited James Harden a little better in the second half, and the lead ballooned to double digits. But the fact that I was the only one that got I guess something out of that is kind of beyond me. The Celtics defended Joel Embiid the way they usually defend him — with a big and plenty of help defense to throw him off balance. Tatum did not play for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, and the Celtics still built their lead before he checked back in for the rest of the period. “And then I’m the only one who gets a tech. But the Celtics solidified in the paint, and the Sixers didn’t really seem to adjust much. “We both are extremely competitive, both are trying to get better, trying to make our franchise better, trying to make our teammates better as we’re all chasing a championship,” Brown told reporters after the game.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics NBA basketball game on 19 October 2022.

[Malcolm Brogdon](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2566769/malcolm-brogdon) added 16 points and [Grant Williams](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066218/grant-williams) finished with 15 as the defending Eastern Conference champions gave interim coach Joe Mazzulla a victory in his debut on a night the team honored the legacy of [Bill Russell](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4152/bill-russell). [Joel Embiid](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid) added 26 points and 15 rebounds. The uniforms included 11 gold diamonds down the sides, signifying the 11 championships Russell helped bring Boston during his career. … Shot 71% in the second quarter with no turnovers. The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. The team also wore No. “I think at the end of the game, the 'Let's go Celtics! He was able to get to the free throw line often. Celtics: Outscored the 76ers 24-2 in fast-break points. “It was just unique and special," Brown said. “It was a proud moment,” Mazzulla said. [Jayson Tatum](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) and [Jaylen Brown](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the [Philadelphia 76ers](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA's season opener.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics NBA basketball game on 19 October 2022.

[Malcolm Brogdon](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2566769/malcolm-brogdon) added 16 points and [Grant Williams](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066218/grant-williams) finished with 15 as the defending Eastern Conference champions gave interim coach Joe Mazzulla a victory in his debut on a night the team honored the legacy of [Bill Russell](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4152/bill-russell). [Joel Embiid](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid) added 26 points and 15 rebounds. The uniforms included 11 gold diamonds down the sides, signifying the 11 championships Russell helped bring Boston during his career. … Shot 71% in the second quarter with no turnovers. The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. The team also wore No. “I think at the end of the game, the 'Let's go Celtics! He was able to get to the free throw line often. Celtics: Outscored the 76ers 24-2 in fast-break points. “It was just unique and special," Brown said. “It was a proud moment,” Mazzulla said. [Jayson Tatum](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) and [Jaylen Brown](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the [Philadelphia 76ers](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA's season opener.

James Harden got off to an encouraging start, but Joel Embiid and the Sixers' defense looked a step behind as the Celtics cruised to an opening night win.

They were simply trading baskets down 10 by this point, unable to make a serious dent in the lead. The Sixers had their hands full with both Jays, as Jaylen Brown finished with 35 points of his own. They weren’t able to get much of anything going on the offensive end. - The second quarter had a completely different tone from the first, as both offenses came alive. Boston did a good job of knowing when to send double teams at him and making he sure he wasn’t catching the ball near the basket. The audio on the TNT feed was ahead of the game action, which was jarring.

Jayson Tatum has confidence-booster game, James Harden shows lethal touch and 76ers' new faces have rough debuts.

None of the three were major factors in the loss to the Celtics. A fair number of players who played at the same level of Griffin wouldn’t stick around for this. They’ll need to be at their best when the Sixers are matched against the East powers. It’s an inconvenience at best, and a big loss at worst, for Boston as the Celtics make do until then. But Horford is 36 and the Celtics are rather thin at the power positions. It made for an interesting test case against Embiid, who led the league in scoring last season and, for the second time, was runner-up in the Kia MVP voting. He reset over the summer, reduced weight, signed a team-friendly contract extension that allowed the Sixers to add other players and came to camp feeling determined. Also, he was guarded Tuesday by Marcus Smart, the reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He arrived in midseason from Brooklyn and the initial expectations were just too steep and maybe unrealistic. By the way, Brown and Tatum have each had 30-plus points in the same regular season game 13 times in their careers together. Tatum had some terrific transitional moments against Philly where he made defensive stops and followed up with jumpers and layups, especially in the game-changing third quarter when the balance flipped to Boston. Last we saw Tatum, he was tossing bricks in the 2022 NBA Finals and coming up short in performance and energy against the Warriors.

The Philadelphia 76ers battled it out against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

A tight battle continued in the second quarter. [James Harden](https://www.si.com/search?query=James+Harden) led the charge as he checked in for the entire first quarter. The Sixers got off to a slow start. Meanwhile, the Celtics made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the Heat to advance to the final stage of the postseason. By the end of the regular season, Philadelphia entered the playoffs as the fourth seed. Last season, the Sixers and the Celtics split their season series with two wins and two losses each.

NBA LIVE: Celtics, Sixers collide to open season as Embiid begins MVP quest · Watch an average of 9 LIVE NBA Regular Season games per week on ESPN on Kayo Sports ...

The play prompted a loud “f*** Embiid” chant from the Celtics fans to create plenty of feeling in the match. There was plenty of spice early in the third as Embiid and Marcus Smart got tangled up after a rebound, leading to a scuffle between the two as they had to be broken up. But Boston got a huge response out of Tatum and Brown late in the period including going on a 9-0 run at one stage to come storming back into the contest and take the lead. Philly charged ahead early in the second term, extending its lead to double digits behind the lead of Harden and Tobias Harris. Harden’s elite play helped the Sixers get out to a 29-24 lead at the end of the first term. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers open the NBA season on Wednesday (all times AEDT) in a thrilling showdown between two bona fide title contenders.