Celtics and 76ers: First meeting since trade
Boston and Philadelphia clash for the first time since July, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown facing each other after a summer separation fueled by rumors.
By Ryan Carter ·
The Boston Celtics will travel to Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight to face the Philadelphia 76ers for the first time since the Eastern Conference realignment on July 6. The matchup marks the first major rivalry game of the 2026-27 season, pitting Jayson Tatum against Jaylen Brown, his former teammate for nine seasons.
The trade that sent Brown to Philadelphia was completed in late July in exchange for Paul George and a package of draft picks. While the deal was initially criticized for the low return Boston received, both franchises have benefited from the swap. Philadelphia sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 9-2 record, while Boston follows in second place at 8-2.
Rumors of a personal rift between Tatum and Brown surfaced during the offseason, suggesting tensions arose after Brown emerged as the team's primary scorer while Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles tendon. Both players have publicly minimized the conflict, with Brown describing it as "a little lamb chop" rather than a true beef. Reports indicate the two have not spoken since the trade and did not interact during a preseason meeting.
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse expects Brown to bring added emotion to the contest. "I think probably a little bit of emotion in there, too, but also I think he's going to be very motivated to play," Nurse said. Betting markets have set Brown's scoring line at 22.5 points and his points, rebounds, and assists total at 32.5.
Tatum, who is fully healthy, enters the game averaging 27.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game. He is currently the only player in the NBA averaging at least 25 points and eight assists per contest. Tatum is projected for 26.5 points and a 40.5 point, rebound, and assist total in tonight's matchup.
The Celtics have maintained a strong offensive rhythm on their current four-game road trip, winning their first two contests by margins of at least 20 points. Boston leads the league with a net rating of plus-11.6 and ranks third in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating. The team averages 41.5 three-point attempts per game and makes 15.6, the second-highest volume in the league.
Philadelphia has not allowed an opponent to score 30 points this season, a statistic that could complicate Tatum's scoring efforts. The 76ers secured a 127-121 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, where Brown scored a team-high 29 points. LeBron James recorded 22 points in that game, his highest total since joining Philadelphia.
The Sixers have compiled an 8-0 record in clutch time situations this season, shooting 48.8% from the field and 47.1% from three-point range in those final moments. Their current 9-2 start is the franchise's best opening stretch since the 2000-01 season, the last year the team appeared in the NBA Finals.
The game is part of an NBC doubleheader and is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET. Boston is listed as a 1.5-point road favorite at most sportsbooks, while the total points line is set at 217.5. The Celtics have already utilized Paul George effectively in the rotation, with the former star contributing 27 points in their most recent win against Milwaukee.
