Can the Boston Celtics come away with a win this time?
After three straight losses to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics are hungry for a win against the Sixers — but given they couldn’t seal the deal even when center Joel Embiid was out with a torn tendon, is it unrealistic to expect them to take a game on their home court?
With the trade deadline looming, the contest could be the last, best chance for the Celtics to see if the bench has anything to contribute against a potential postseason roadblock — but what else should we know about the 76ers?
As the Celtics host their Atlantic Division rival 76ers for their fourth and final meeting of the 2019-20 NBA season, we caught up with Ky Carlin, the editor of our sister site Sixers Wire to see what’s been going on with the Sixers since they last played the Celtics.
What’s changed since these two East rivals last squared off?
As always is the case for this Sixers team, injuries. It seems like they’ve been dogged by nagging injuries for a majority of the season and now they’re dealing with an issue to Josh Richardson who will miss the game. He played a key role in the team’s win in Boston on December 12. So Shake Milton will most likely start in his place for a fourth straight game.
How does each team win?
For Philly, it’s the same story. Pound Boston inside and play bully ball. The Celtics are a smaller group so that gives Joel Embiid a chance to put up big numbers and Al Horford to go to work down low.
For the Celtics, they can use that size to their advantage in a way. All-Stars Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum can get by the bigger and slower Sixers to get to the bucket while Jaylen Brown can produce from the perimeter as well. However, when the Sixers can respond with elite defenders like Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle, that makes life tough for Boston.
What else should we know about the Sixers for this meeting?
That they’re incredible maddening. They have three wins over Boston plus wins over the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Indiana Pacers, but they also have head scratching losses to the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Atlanta Hawks.
They’re supremely talented, but they’re so inconsistent and it’s hard to tell which Sixers team will show up. Time will tell how far they go in their future.
#NEBHInjuryReport for tomorrow vs Philadelphia:
Enes Kanter (right hip contusion) – QUESTIONABLE
Kemba Walker (left knee soreness) – QUESTIONABLE
Robert Williams (left hip bone edema) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 31, 2020
This go-round, Philly will have their prized center fully available, with Embiid having since recovered from that tendon tear and subsequent surgery. They will be without starting shooting guard Josh Richardson, however, as he continues to recover from a strained hamstring.
Former Celtic Al Horford may also miss the contest, having missed the Sixers’ prior tilt due to knee soreness.
Boston will continue to be without centers Robert Williams III (hip) and Enes Kanter (knee), and starting point guard Kemba Walker is questionable with knee soreness.
With three wins to their credit already this season, it shouldn’t surprise that most online sportsbooks grant the 76ers a +4 spread, but it ought to be a winnable game with some luck.
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