PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and outplayed former Boston teammate Jaylen Brown, and Paul George hit six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, leading the Celtics past the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night.
Brown ran into early foul trouble and scored only 13 points in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded over the summer to the Sixers. His head-to-head showdown with Tatum was one of the more anticipated early-season matchups with both players refusing to say much about their frosty relationship.
Tatum tried to dap up Brown before the opening tip with a tap on the shoulder and thump on the chest that his former teammate ignored. Tatum shook hands and exchanged a big hug with LeBron James.
Brown picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was whistled for his fourth early in the second half.
George, traded for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, enjoyed the homecoming. He appeared to give the finger in a bowling motion near the visitor’s bench after he sank his fourth 3 of the game for a 100-82 lead that pushed the Celtics to their ninth win in 10 games.
The Sixers survived a scare late in the second half when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly and hit the court on a missed layup attempt. The oft-injured big man curled up on the court while VJ Edgecombe dunked over him.
Embiid gingerly ran down the court and hunched over as the halftime horn sounded with the Celtics up 62-51.
Embiid’s health has been a career-long issue for him, and the Sixers have declined to play him in back-to-back games. A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has slumped with his shot this season, with no game worse than last Friday in Cleveland when missed all nine shots from the floor and scored only two points.
He had missed 27 of 30 (and 20 consecutive) 3-pointers entering the game. Embiid missed two 3-point attempts in the first half but opened the second with his first 3 since the second game of the season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The battle of the Jays made the headlines, but Paul George seized the spotlight in his return to Philly.
The Boston Celtics handily beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 behind George’s 36 points, as he rattled off shot after shot against his former team. Boston’s depth also put on a show against the Sixers, as 8 players hit at least 1 three-pointer and 3 players (George, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser) hit at least 4.
It was the first of four regular season games between Boston and Philly this year and, other than the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, the first time the Jays have faced each other as opponents. The teams’ next matchup won’t be until Jan. 21, when they will square off in TD Garden.
Boston’s starting squad included Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. The team’s injury report was clear.
Philly’s starters included Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow were out with injuries.
George opened up the action for Boston with the team’s first 4 points, as he capitalized early on his advantageous matchup against Edgecombe. Less than 3 minutes into the game, we got our first glimpse of the head-to-head matchup between the Jays. Tatum was guarding Brown and forced a turnover with some fast hands, then got an easy dunk and a cutting layup on back-to-back plays.
Brown got his first points of the game on a pair of free throws about 4 minutes in, but Maxey led the way early for the Sixers, with 8 of the team’s first 12 points. Nevertheless, the Celtics had an 18-12 lead after 5 minutes and started off shooting a scalding 8-10 from the floor.
White had a nice redemption play about halfway through the quarter, where he got back in position after losing a turnover and drew a charge on Brown, who took the ball hard to the paint. The Jays starred on the next two plays, as Tatum hit a slick step back three-pointer that was followed up with a ferocious dunk by Brown.
Mitchell Robinson also put in some good work early on, battling with Embiid down low and grabbing 3 rebounds (one of which resulted in a scrappy putback) in less than 5 minutes of play time. However, he fouled Embiid on a three-pointer with less than 3 minutes to go in the quarter, which led Head Coach Joe Mazzulla to sub him out for Queta.
Luckily, Embiid hit only 1-3 free throws, and Boston rattled off a pair of layups to go up 30-21 with 26 seconds to go in the quarter, which ended with a missed Payton Pritchard three-pointer at the buzzer. The frame ended with the C’s up 30-23.
Both teams came out firing in the second quarter. Almost five minutes into the frame, the Celtics had scored 15 points and the Sixers tallied 11 of their own. Other than a lone Luka Garza bucket, all of Boston’s offense came from Pritchard and George, who were red hot to open the quarter. With 7:21 to go, the C’s had taken a 45-34 lead.
Both sides cooled off a bit about halfway through the quarter. Maxey kept Philly’s offense chugging along, but the Celtics took a 54-40 lead with the help of a few three-pointers (2 from Sam Hauser and 1 from Hugo Gonzalez). George’s hot streak continued, as he came out of a timeout, rebounded his own miss for a bucket, then knocked down a free throw to complete the and-1 play. He also hit a three-pointer about a minute later to put the C’s up 62-47.
The Sixers scored the last 4 points of the half, leaving the Celtics with a 62-51 lead after two quarters.
At the half, George led the C’s in scoring with 17 points on 63.6% shooting from the field. He also had 4 rebounds and 1 assist.
Tatum was Boston’s second leading scorer, with 13 points, 4 rebounds and a block.
For the Sixers, Maxey led the way with 12 points, while Embiid had 9 points (entirely from free throws, as he was 0-6 from the field).
Brown had 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers at the half.
Embiid hit his fourth three-pointer of the season (and his first in 7 games) to open the second half, but Tatum came back and hit a three-pointer of his own soon after. Brown also tallied his fourth foul of the game early in the quarter, putting him in foul trouble early. However, it was the Sixers who came out of the half with more of a spark. With the help of a LeBron three-pointer, a ridiculous circus shot by Edgecombe to score over Queta, and a Maxey layup, Philly went on a 7-0 run to cut Boston’s lead to 69-63.
Following a Celtics timeout, Queta cut to the rim for an easy bucket on a dime from Tatum. It was Tatum’s first assist of the game. Tatum also had what might have been the play of the game soon after, as he blocked an Edgecombe layup and flew down the court for a thunderous poster dunk on LeBron. Nevertheless, the Sixers kept chipping away, and underrated Celtics killer Dean Wade hit a 26-footer to tie the game up at 76 apiece with about 4 minutes left in the quarter.
Following a timeout, the momentum changed hands again. Pritchard and Maxey went back-to-back-to-back in a three-point shooting exchange that Boston got the best of. Hauser hit another from behind the arc soon after to put the C’s up 85-79. That wasn’t the end of the three-point shooting display, though. After the Celtics forced a shot clock violation, Tatum, Maxey, and Scheierman hit 3 three-pointers in a row.
By the end of the third, the C’s had taken a 91-82 lead.
The Celtics’ shooting stayed hot as the final frame began. Pritchard started the quarter with a deep step-back three-pointer, then hit on another a couple minutes later to increase Boston’s lead to 15 points while both Maxey and Embiid were resting. George joined in on the fun and hit a pullup three-pointer of his own to give the C’s a 100-82 lead, the largest of the night.
Philly called a timeout and subbed Maxey and Embiid back into the game, but they still had a hard time breaking through the Celtics’ stifling defense. On the other hand, nothing could stop Paul George. He knocked down a sweet turnaround mid-ranger, then cooked his defender for an easy layup to put Boston up 105-82 with about 8 minutes left to go.
Brown hit his first three-pointer of the night following a Boston timeout, but George hit another 2 three-pointers soon after to give the C’s a dominant 111-87 lead with less than 6 minutes to go in the game. The Sixers subsequently emptied the bench, all but conceding the loss to Boston. The Celtics depth then finished the job and never let Philly even whiff a potential comeback.
George racked up 36 points on 63.6% shooting, including 6-11 from beyond the arc, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
Tatum finished the game with 21 points on 47.1% shooting, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
Pritchard, Hauser, and Hugo Gonzalez each finished in the double-digits scoring-wise, with 18, 12, and 10 points, respectively.
The team finished the game shooting 22-49 from three-point range.
Brown had only 13 points on 44.4% shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 stocks. He also had 4 turnovers and finished with a +/- of -27 for the night.
Maxey, James, and Embiid had 24, 11, and 16 points, respectively.
The Celtics will play the Toronto Raptors tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Scotiabank Arena. It will be the last game of Boston’s four-game road trip.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The high-profile, max contract wing dropped 36 points to lead his new team to a win over his old team, just like everyone expected.
The Sixers were demolished 123-101 by the Boston Celtics thanks to a Paul George masterclass Tuesday night.
In his first game back against his old team, Jaylen Brown didn’t have the night he envisioned, putting up just 13 shooting 4-of-9 from the field, sitting for much of the second half in foul trouble.
Tyrese Maxey was the entire Sixers’ offense for too much of the night, leading the team with 24 on 8-of-12 shooting with four assists. Joel Embiid was able to get to the line but still struggled from the floor, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds and one assist shooting 2-of-9 from the floor.
LeBron James struggled as well, having 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting along with eight rebounds and five assists. George led all scorers with his 36.
The Sixers were once again without Adem Bona (neck) and Dominick Barlow (back).
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Revenge was had on the first bucket of the game as Paul George was able to drive through Maxey for a midrange pull-up, just like everyone anticipated. He did the same over VJ Edgecombe a couple possessions later, but did foul Embiid to help the Sixers’ score their first points of the game.
Brown’s first shot against his old team was an open corner three swung to him that didn’t fall. When he got Jayson Tatum matched up on him, the crowd came to a roar, but Tatum won the first round as he was able to force a turnover with the help of a double team. As a team the Sixers had some sloppiness to start the game. Embiid had an ugly turnover trying to throw a behind-the-back pass, and they completely lost Tatum on a backdoor cut for an open layup.
Maxey got off to a tremendous start, one that the Sixers very much needed as the rest of the starters opened the game 0-of-5 from the floor. His shotmaking from all over the floor prevented the Sixers from going down into a big hole early. Desperate to make something happen, Brown did a good job to steal an outlet pass, but Derrick White was able to slide under and take a charge to discount the basket. He finally made his first field goal of the game driving by Jordan Walsh to slam it home.
Jaylen Brown comes up with the steal on the Jayson Tatum pass, Tyrese Maxey nails the triple 🎯 pic.twitter.com/EXMjdA0GIE
While he didn’t hit a jumper to break the seal, the Sixers offense came alive more with Embiid getting to the line. It’s clear he’s still trying to find that trust in his jumper again, but the way he was getting fouled in the post made him look a bit more like himself. VJ Edgecombe made a brilliant spin move to cut the lead to three.
That bucket was followed by Embiid’s second turnover of the game, a contested Maxey fadeaway, and Embiid missing two out of three from the free throw line. Maxey tried to hit Dean Wade in the dunker finishing a drive, but Wade wasn’t ready for it and dropped it out of bounds. Anfernee Simons hit a pull-up jumper to end a field goal drought that lasted over four and a half minutes and cut the Sixers’ deficit to seven points after the first.
Second Quarter
The end of the first and beginning of the second made clear the Sixers were leaning more into staggering Brown and James together, leaving the three incumbent starters together. LeBron was also scoreless in the first and hit a midrange early in the second to get on the board. He also found Simons in the corner from three, but with the Celtics scoring on four of their first five possessions of the quarter the Sixers continued to fall behind.
Nothing emphasized the Sixers’ struggles to get anything to fall like their struggles around the basket. LeBron smoked his second bunny of the game, then tried to hit Jabari Walker right by the basket, but Walker couldn’t corral it and lost the ball out of bounds. They started the game shooting 44% at the rim, which Cleaning the Glass put in just the third percentile across the league.
After a rare made basket, the Sixers were too slow getting back and conceded an open three to Sam Hauser before anyone had gotten back. Brown missing a pair of free throws followed by Hauser hitting a very contested three off the dribble made this game feel like it was starting to spiral. Coming out of a timeout, George beat Brown for an offensive rebound and drew a foul as he banked in his putback.
The combination of this game’s struggles at the rim and the season’s struggles in transition all came to a head on one play. LeBron hit Embiid with a touchdown pass and Embiid took off a little too early and missed the layup, and got his feet tangled up with George as they landed. Edgecombe was able to find the loose ball and slam it back home, but Embiid stayed on the ground for a few moments and hobbled his way through the final 30 seconds of the half. The Sixers trailed by 11 at the break.
Third Quarter
Despite that scare, Embiid was not only out there to start the second half, but he started it by making his first three-point attempt since the home opener. Maxey was able to get to the line on the Sixers next possession, but the Celtics halted any sort of momentum right there. Tatum hit a contested three over Maxey before Brown picked up his fourth foul of the night.
LeBron was also desperate for a jumper to fall and it took him two attempts in the third to finally get a three to go down. Edgecombe, who was easily one of the best Sixers on the floor so far, followed that up with a very acrobatic finish over Neemias Queta. Maxey was able to get to the basket on the next possession, cutting the lead to six and prompting a Celtics timeout.
The Sixers continued to mount momentum coming out of the timeout. Embiid was still able to get to the line and LeBron started getting downhill as well. They did a good job of not letting big Celtics baskets kill their momentum. Tatum got LeBron pretty good with a dunk and George buried another three, but the Sixers kept eating into the lead.
Wade was putting in a great night for the Sixers, and it helped that he got some threes up and buried a couple, one of which briefly tied the game up. Maxey hit a ridiculous three to keep it tied for a second, but Boston had another onslaught of their own to go back in front. One hit off the top of the backboard, but it also didn’t help that the Sixers kept leaving Hauser and Tatum wide open on the perimeter. Wade had an open three rim out to keep the Celtics up by nine.
Fourth Quarter
The Celtics drilled three more triples before the Sixers got on the board to start the quarter, prompting a timeout from Nick Nurse. The full starting five checked back into the game much earlier than normal in one last attempt to salvage the night. The first basket coming out of that timeout was George posting up Maxey, hitting his pull-up while getting fouled in the process.
George scooted past the entire Sixers defense for a layup on the following possession. Maxey appeared to have earned a trip to the line for the Sixers first points of the quarter, but Joe Mazzulla challenged the play and got it overturned. The Sixers didn’t score their first points of the fourth until the 7:37 mark when a Brown three bounced in. The Sixers waived the white flag after a couple more minutes of George burying threes on them.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Tyler Kolek #13 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
One can draw conclusions from Milwaukee’s 1-10 record. For instance, maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo was even more important to their success than we understood. Maybe we overestimated coach Taylor Jenkins a li’l bit? Or maybe the Deer just stink this season? We remember when Jenkins competed with Mike Brown for the Knicks’ top job. There’s a sliding doors moment we’d rather not consider.
Tonight, Jenkins got a solid effort from his team in the opening quarter. A regulation game lasts 48 minutes, though, and New York’s stifling defense held the Bucks to just 34 points through the first 24. Ahead by two dozen at halftime, the home team let the guests cut the deficit to 11 early in the fourth. Then the dynamic duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyler Kolek restored some sanity, and by the bell, the Knicks had won, 117–85.
For those counting at home, that’s four consecutive wins to bring New York to 6-4. It’s also the fourth time in five games that they’ve held an opponent under 100 points. No Knicks starter played more than 30 minutes (nice, because they’ll need their legs tomorrow against Cleveland). And that’s officially the Bucks’ worst start in 33 years.
The Bucks didn’t play like a last-place team in the first quarter, nor did the Knicks comport themselves like world champions. The lead changed seven times before New York finally found traction late in the quarter. On the plus side, Landry Shamet hit two treys, and Mikal Bridges chipped in two buckets, three rebounds, a steal and a block. For the villains, Ryan Rollins stood out with five points, two assists, two rebounds and a steal.
The Knicks lead their conference in rebounding percentage (53.3%). Give credit to Karl-Anthony Towns (21 PTS, 16 RBS, 27 MIN), who’s grabbing 13.6 boards per night. The KAT campaign for MVP rolled on this evening. In the first quarter, Towns played straight-up defense on one end, deterring a Ryan Rollins drive. At the other end, he played quarterback, hitting Jalen Brunson (23 PTS) on a cut to the cup. He feasted on the well-fed Myles Turner, and the Knicks won the paint 16-6 and the boards 16-8 in the first quarter. The three-ball kept the Bucks competitive, but by the period’s end, the hosts were ahead 26-21.
From the “Gotta Complain About Something” file, Anunoby failed to flush the ball twice tonight. He’s getting to the charity stripe at a career-high clip, but he’s also clanged plenty off the front of the iron. You can’t gripe about this stat-line, though: 19 points, 6-of-12 FG, 5-of-8 3PT, and a +26.
OG Anunoby gets the friendly bounce on the step back corner 3 off the spin move, over Jaime Jaquez Jr. pic.twitter.com/1i7wPKdUXn
After a strong showing in the first quarter, the visitors wilted fast in the second. Milwaukee scored first, then New York rattled off 10 straight to push the lead to a baker’s dozen. Tyler Kolek (12 PTS, 2-3 3PT, 15 MIN) capped the run with a three, then blocked an AJ Green three, grabbed the rebound and took it the other way for a layup. After a Jenkins timeout, Kolek turned a missed Jaime Jaquez, Jr. (16 PTS) three into a driving finger roll for two.
A little past midway through the frame, the good guys had outscored Milwaukee 19-5. Towns cleaned the glass, and Andre Drummond (14 RBS, 16 MIN) grabbed nine boards in eight first-half minutes. Three came on the offensive end.
Anunoby had a fine second frame, scoring eight with two threes, two assists and a steal. Brunson chipped in six points, and Towns grabbed five boards and made two free throws. Nate Ament led Milwaukee with five points and added a steal. The Knicks won the frame 32-13 and went into halftime up 58-34.
At the half, Milwaukee had matched New York’s eight threes and nearly matched its percentage from deep (35% to 36%). Inside the arc, the Bucks were a dreadful 5-for-19 against the Knicks’ 14-for-27. New York also doubled Milwaukee on the boards, 34-17, including 10 offensive rebounds. Anunoby, Brunson and Shamet shared the halftime scoring lead with 10 apiece. Ament had seven for the guests.
Jaquez burst out of intermission with fire and desire, scoring nine of his team’s first 15 points as the Bucks lopped 10 points off their deficit. Rollins had a fine quarter, too, hitting three treys. KAT missed his first six tries from deep but still managed his 10th double-double of the season. The Captain found his touch, scoring 13 of the Knicks’ 27 third-quarter points. For the visitors, Kasparas Jakučionis added five points and two assists in the final 3:08. The Bucks won the quarter 38-27 and trailed 85-72 heading into the fourth.
After surrendering an alley-oop to Kel’el Ware, the Knicks found themselves ahead by 11 early in the fourth. It was time to get serious. Towns drilled a triple, his first make in seven tries. He missed two freebies, but Shamet grabbed the rebound and Kolek cashed it in from deep. Oh, and don’t look now, but here comes Karl with another bomb! He and Kolek synergized and synthesized, combining for New York’s first 11 points of the quarter.
Anunoby buried back-to-back threes to cap a 21-6 Knicks run that stretched the lead from 13 to 28. Gary Trent Jr. scored five quick points for Milwaukee, but it was too little, too late. Dalton Knecht, Pacôme Dadiet and Jose Alvarado got some run as the bench crew swept up and turned off the lights while the starters thought about their dinner plans.
Up Next
Mo is basting his recap in delicious juices. The Knicks are back at the Garden tomorrow for another clash with the Cavs. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 30: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Paycom Center on October 30, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images Feb 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) advances the ball as Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
Game Info
When: Wednesday, November 11th at 7:00 p.m. ET
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Injury Report
Wizards: Jamir Watkins – Out (Knee), Tristan Vukcevic – Out (Hip), Reece Beekman – Out (Shoulder), Justin Champagnie – Out (Foot)
Pacers: TJ McConnell – Questionable (Hamstring), Tyrese Haliburton – Out (Hamstring), Johnny Furphy – Out (Knee), Ben Sheppard – Out (Knee)
Pregame notes
The Wizards wrap up this early season 4-game road trip with a visit to Indiana to face the Pacers. Washington is currently on a 4-game losing streak. After holding the Orlando Magic to 94 points last week, the Wizards have given up at least 114 points to each of the past four opponents. This is one of the main reasons why the team has struggled on this road trip thus far.
On the flip side, Indiana has also struggled lately, especially without their superstar point guard, Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton started the season strong, making his return from a torn Achilles suffered during the NBA Finals, just over a season ago, only to get a hamstring injury that has put him on the shelf for the past few games. Without their star, Indiana’s strength of sharing the ball will surely be on full display. They currently rank 5th in the NBA in assists per game as a team. Under Rick Carlisle, the Pacers have made their mark getting everyone involved on offense and valuing good shot selection.
For the Wizards to win this game, they will have to shoot the 3 point shot, much better to keep pace with the Pacers’ offense. Currently the Wizards are 29th in the league in 3 point percentage. Washington will also need to find their way on defense.
On paper this is a winnable game for the Wizards, but Indiana is a formidable opponent that plays an efficient offensive style that has torched the Wizards over the past week. Let’s see how the Wizards adjust and clean up their defensive woes.
The two have talked publicly about their relationship and have indicated that they have not communicated since the deal.
During the moments right before tip-off Tuesday, Nov. 10, Tatum approached Brown and tapped Brown once on the right arm and twice on his chest as he walked past him. Brown, who was spinning the basketball on his finger, barely acknowledged Tatum and did not reciprocate the greeting.
As soon as the game tipped off, Brown was matched up guarding Tatum, and Tatum eventually forced Brown into a turnover on the other end when he swatted the ball off Brown’s leg; there was significant contact on the play, but Tatum was not called for a foul.
Seconds later, after Brown had argued with officials, he committed a foul on Tatum.
After the game, which the Celtics won 123-101, Brown greeted many of his former teammates, but was not seen on the broadcast exchanging any pleasantries with Tatum.
“I’m just focused on coming out and doing what’s best for my team,” Brown told reporters after the game. “Everything else was just, to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention, but credit to Jayson; he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics; they executed, shot the hell out of the ball. They were the better team tonight.”
Tatum, for his part, also downplayed the entire narrative.
“Listen, it’s not about that,” he said, when asked about the pregame interaction. “Tonight was a good team win. (Paul George) was incredible. That’s all there really is to talk about.”
George scored a game-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting.
Brown, who got into early foul trouble, scored just 13 points and Tatum dropped 21.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 01: Brook Lopez #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Clippers defeated the Suns 117-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 7: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after the game on November 7, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Things can change quickly in the NBA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a rough start to the season, which was capped by a disastrous loss to a bad Charlotte Hornets team without multiple key contributors. But for as bad as things have been, a win over the New York Knicks would go a long way toward turning things around.
Cleveland has lost five straight to New York. This includes a frustrating loss last Saturday night, when the Cavs couldn’t grab rebounds when they needed them and had no answer for Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks will be on the second night of a back-to-back. They host the reeling Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday evening.
We’ll see if the Cavs can right the ship on Wednesday.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Cavs injury report: Sam Merrill – OUT (elbow) , Jaylon Tyson – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (back), Khalifa Diop – OUT (G League), Ernest Udeh, Jr. – OUT (G League)
Knicks injury report vs. Bucks: Josh Hart – DOUBTFUL (illness)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against the Atlanta Hawks during a game in Atlanta, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
They’re rated 19th defensively. Lakers superstar Luka Doncic believes they can claw their way up those rankings.
“I think we can be [good defensively], but honestly I think we just kind of relax a little bit a couple minutes in the game,” Doncic said after the Lakers’ 124-114 win over the Hawks on Monday. “So that allows the team [to] make the run. I think we just gotta figure that out. I think we can be way better than [19th]. I think we have the potential for that.”
Doncic, who has been dragged through the mud throughout his career for his defense, has made marked improvements in that area this season, including finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and two blocked shots against the Hawks.
Doncic, who leads the league in scoring at 39.3 points per game and is having an MVP-caliber start to the season, has shown much more effort on the less glamorous side of the court through his first 10 games.
Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) vies for a rebound against Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
He leads the NBA in defensive loose balls recovered (nine) and is tied for second in charges drawn (four).
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams (11) on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
But they’re showing a lot of signs that they’re putting in the effort to become a good defensive team.
The Lakers rank second in the NBA in steals per game (10.8), second in total deflections (240) and third in blocks per game (6.4).
Kessler, their defensive anchor, leads the league in contested shots (140), and Matisse Thybulle is second in deflections (50).
Nov 9, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (15) reacts after suffering an injury against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
If there’s one thing that gets my blood boiling and sends me rushing to my keyboard, furiously typing away while using this space as a personal therapy session, it’s NBA officiating. And once again, we witnessed not only inconsistency during last night’s matchup between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, but inconsistency in how the league ultimately assessed the consequences.
Let me set the stage for you. It’s the third quarter, and the Suns are trailing by 20 points. Keldon Johnson grabs an offensive rebound and goes up for a shot from about three feet away. In the process, he kicks his leg out, making forceful contact with Devin Booker’s junk. That’s right. Right in the family jewels.
Booker immediately collapses to the floor, writhing in pain, and the officials? Play on. Nothing to see here. Apparently, a man getting kicked squarely in the equipment isn’t enough to warrant a second look, let alone a review for a potential flagrant foul.
Now, when you watch the replay, you can make the argument that Johnson’s leg movement was part of his natural shooting motion. Perhaps he was extending his leg to maintain balance while attempting the shot. I’ll entertain that explanation because we witnessed something remarkably similar last week when Dillon Brooks attempted a jump shot with Jamal Murray defending him.
Did it appear that Brooks extended his leg a little farther than necessary? Absolutely. But anyone who watches Brooks regularly knows that he frequently kicks his leg out when shooting. It’s part of how he stabilizes himself in the air. Perhaps it’s also a technique designed to draw contact, but it’s hardly an unusual movement for him.
Want a fun little officiating stat? Of all 30 NBA teams, none have been whistled for more fouls per game by referee Tyler Ford than the Phoenix Suns.
In 44 games he's officiated involving Phoenix, the Suns have averaged 21.9 fouls per game. pic.twitter.com/QspTTS3ECs
Regardless, Brooks was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game. Meanwhile, against a San Antonio Spurs franchise with a long and storied history of kicking the Suns in the nuts, Johnson wasn’t even assessed a common foul. There’s your first inconsistency.
Then, today, the NBA reviewed the incident and retroactively assessed Johnson a Flagrant 1 foul. So apparently, what wasn’t even worthy of a whistle during the game was serious enough to warrant a flagrant penalty after the fact. Wonderful. Thanks for clearing that up.
SAS’s Keldon Johnson was assessed a postgame flagrant foul penalty 1 upon league office review for https://t.co/zuRgxyyPp2 at 2:01 in Q2 on Nov. 9 vs. PHX
We’ve been down this road before. The league acknowledges an officiating mistake after the game, but that acknowledgment does absolutely nothing for the team that was denied the call in real time. Granted, Phoenix was trailing by 20 points when the incident occurred. I’m certainly not suggesting that a whistle would have changed the outcome of the game.
But that’s not the point. The point is consistency.
Johnson receives a retroactive Flagrant 1, while Brooks was assessed a Flagrant 2 and immediately ejected for a play that, when you compare the footage, appears remarkably similar. So what exactly separates the two incidents? Was Brooks being assessed a reputation tax? Is his history as a physical, occasionally antagonistic defender influencing how officials interpret his actions? Or are we witnessing another example of inconsistent officiating from referees whose judgment deserves scrutiny?
And that brings me to Justin Van Duyne.
Because I’m beginning to wonder whether there’s a bias at play when he officiates Suns games. Much like Tyler Ford, the official who ejected Brooks, Van Duyne has developed a history of calls involving Phoenix that have left me questioning his judgment. The officiating statistics surrounding both referees only add to that frustration, particularly when examining how frequently they’ve whistled the Suns for fouls.
Here’s an interesting officiating stat:
Justin Van Duyne has officiated 60 Phoenix Suns games, whistling them for an average of 21.4 personal fouls per game. That’s the highest foul average he’s called against any of the NBA’s 30 teams.
And these two have history together. Remember when Devin Booker was ejected during a nationally televised matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers a few years ago? Ford and Van Duyne were both involved in the sequence that resulted in Booker receiving technical fouls and being tossed from the game. It’s one of those moments that remains lodged in my basketball memory, and incidents like last night’s do little to improve my confidence in the officiating.
This is the kind of stuff that really ticks my bombs. If the NBA wants to hold players accountable for excessive or dangerous contact, I’m all for it. Protect the players. Enforce the rules. Assess flagrant fouls when the situation warrants them. But for the love of God, establish some consistency in how those rules are applied.
While we’re at it, how about a little accountability for the officials themselves? If the league can review a play the following day and determine that Johnson committed a Flagrant 1 foul, shouldn’t there be some acknowledgment that the officiating crew, including Van Duyne, failed to recognize it when it actually mattered?
Because retroactively assigning a penalty might correct the league’s paperwork, but it does absolutely nothing to correct what happened on the basketball court. And until there’s greater consistency and accountability, I’ll continue finding myself right here, furiously typing away, wondering how the same league can look at two remarkably similar plays and somehow arrive at three different conclusions.
MEMPHIS, TN - OCTOBER 31: Carson Cooper #20 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays defense during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 31, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Grant Burke/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers are continuing to make moves on the margin while trying to find a potential center solution. After signing Lawson Lovering to a two-way deal roughly two weeks ago, the Lakers are waiving the big man in place of…another big man.
Carson Cooper, a 6’10” center, will take Lovering’s place on a two-way deal, all according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving two-way center Lawson Lovering, league sources told @hoopshype. The 7-foot center averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two games with the Memphis Grizzlies last season.
The Los Angeles Lakers plan to sign center Carson Cooper to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Cooper was with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season. pic.twitter.com/bJDk7edDRW
Cooper appeared in one game with the Grizzlies this year, playing for just three minutes. He signed a two-way deal with Memphis after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft.
In Summer League, Cooper averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in nine games between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He attempted four 3-pointers, making two of them.
At Michigan State, Cooper averaged 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 58.4% from the field. He only averaged one block per game and attempted five threes all season.
Lovering only had some brief cameos with the Lakers, all coming in garbage time, during his stint with the Lakers. He was with the parent team at the start of the G League season, so he did not play with Coachella Valley.
Given how the Lakers are currently playing and how little real NBA experience he has, it’s unlikely to expect much from Cooper. The team is shuffling through options, but none of them appear all that intriguing on paper. For now, these are all makeshift, break-in-case-of-emergency solutions that likely won’t play.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 27: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against Myles Turner #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on February 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Easy pickings? We shall see. The 5-4 Knicks, winners of three straight, will host the free-falling Milwaukee Bucks (1-9) tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are heavy favorites and have a chance to climb in the standings, while the Bucks have the league’s worst net rating and no road wins. This is Milwaukee’s first season without Giannis Antetokounmpo since 2012-13, and it’s fair to say . . . not going great. Tyler Herro is questionable for Milwaukee with a right contusion. As of this writing, Josh Hart is questionable for the Knicks with ankle soreness.
Beware the trap game! Tip-off is 7:30 pm EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Brew Hoop. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Mind your manners. And go Knicks!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Jordan Poole #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball during the game against Golden State Warriors on November 9, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors had a poignant reunion on Monday night, when they welcomed the New Orleans Pelicans to town, and proceeded to crush them by 51 points. There are a lot of former Warriors around the league, but some feel different when they face the Warriors, and that was the case when Jordan Poole checked into the game.
It’s no secret that it’s been a rough few years for Poole, whom the Warriors took with the 28th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Michigan. After showing some signs in his first two seasons, Poole burst onto the scene during the 2021-22 campaign, when he became a starter, played 30 minutes a night, averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 assists, led the NBA in free throw percentage, had a highlight every game, and was at times the second option on a Warriors team that would eventually defeat the Boston Celtics to win an NBA championship.
But things went sideways for there. The next year was bittersweet, as Poole parlayed his performance into a massive extension, but was also on the receiving end of a punch from teammate Draymond Green, which led to uncomfortable vibes and thick tension for the entire year. The next offseason, the Warriors traded Poole to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul, and, away from the confines of Steph Curry and Steve Kerr’s offense, Poole struggled, putting up big numbers but on very low efficiency.
He bounced back with a strong offensive showing in 2024-25, but prior to last season was traded to the Pelicans. His first year in the bayou did not go according to plan, as he averaged just 13.4 points and shot a lowly 37.2% from the field.
This year has been even worse. Poole started the season slow, coming off the bench in the first four games of the season and having lackluster numbers. That earned him a benching, and when New Orleans came to town on Monday, Poole had gone six straight games without getting on the court.
That playing drought ended on Monday. With the Pelicans down a handful of key players — including Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Yves Missi — and with the game a blowout from the start, Jamahl Mosley gave Poole his largest run of the season, playing him for 34 minutes. Poole didn’t play well — he scored seven points on 1-for-5 shooting, with two assists and two turnovers — but it was still nice seeing him out there. And it was hard not to wonder: what could have been?
Maybe we’ll get something of an answer someday. While Poole has been reluctant to discuss the situation with Green, Monday was the first time that he really spoke about his time in Golden State. And he didn’t hide his feelings: he misses it.
Asked by reporters if he missed Golden State, Poole made his thoughts emphatically clear, saying, “Hell yeah! Obviously. They play the right way, bro. They play good basketball. They play team basketball … Do I miss it? Hell yeah.”
Poole then spoke very openly about the difficulties of the current season, where he’s struggling to find minutes on a team that is likely headed for the lottery. He didn’t make excuses or cast blame anywhere, but repeated twice that the season — only a few weeks old — has been “pretty f*****g difficult.”
His answer led to an obvious follow-up: would Poole, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, be amenable to a return to the Bay Area? Again, he left no doubt with his response, saying, “Yes. Yes. It just feels like home though, you know? Driving into the f*****g arena, crossing the Bay Bridge or wherever you’re coming from, it definitely feels natural. And I think it’s pretty evident, the way that I play is very fitting to how I used to play here. Nothing’s changed, other than the systems that I’m in. We won a championship, you know, so it works … so to answer your question: definitely.”
Poole elaborated, all but saying that he would jump at the opportunity to sign with the Dubs in free agency, should he be offered a contract. “I’m a free agent at the end of this season,” the 27-year old explained. “If there’s any place where I’m comfortable, it’s probably where I started. So I just got to find ways to keep learning and try to make the best decisions for my future.”
Barring something unexpected, the Warriors should have no problems finding the money to sign Poole next offseason, since his current play has tanked his value. A reunion would likely come down to whether or not the team felt they had a need for his services, and whether they believed he could bounce back following a few down years. He certainly seems like the ideal change-of-scenery candidate, and the Warriors are very familiar with his game and his work habits. They’re always on the lookout for bench scorers, and especially could end up needing him if Brandon Williams departs next summer.
That’s a long ways from now. But who knows: maybe this time next year, Poole will be back in a Warriors jersey. It sure sounds like he’d like that.
Nov 1, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandon Williams (12) before the game against the LA Clippers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Last night, Brandon Williams lasted just 99 seconds before sustaining an injury that kept him out the rest of the game. This afternoon, following an MRI, we’ve learned that it’s a mild left hamstring strain that will keep him out for at least a week, which will be when he’s next evaluated by the Golden State Warriors medical staff. It’s a big blow for both the fifth-year vet and the team as this next 5-game stretch, already figuring to be the end of this historic winning streak at some point, could be a real setback.
As Brady mentioned last night, Williams joins Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, and Gary Payton II among the actively injured with Will Richard out indefinitely and Kristaps Porziņģis all but retired. That’s 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 16 minutes a night that they’ll have to make up in the near-term. It’s not like solid backup point guards are easy to find, and the Dubs are already without a true center on top of all these injured forwards.
So, it gets harder.
Still, it’s worth wondering to what extent the team expected this. He had a bout of quad tightness a little over a week ago and was ruled out against the Suns; and as Anthony Slater noted earlier:
But left hamstring issues have followed Williams early in his NBA career. He strained it in the 2025 preseason while with Dallas and subsequently missed time last March while dealing with tightness.
The Warriors will need him back ASAP, but it’s also early enough in the season where there’s probably some incentive to let him take extra time to recover. All that to say that 7 days is probably the most optimistic recovery period. They’re one of the trickiest injuries to deal with and it’s probably easier to envision a far longer recovery period, especially since he had to come out of the game so suddenly.
So, the backup PG situation (non-Podziemski division) looks like this: De’Anthony Melton, Gui Santos, and LJ Cryer. Williams was a perfect change of pace. Like a shot of espresso off the bench. He provided such a jolt that that alone might be the hardest aspect of his game to reproduce in the aggregate.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (8-2) at Philadelphia 76ers (9-2) Tuesday, November 10, 2026 8:00 PM ET Game #11 Road #6 TV: Peacock/NBC Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 97.5 The Fanatic, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena
The Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers for the first of 4 games between them this season. They will meet in Philadelphia again on February 7. They will meet twice in Boston on January 21 and March 7. This is likely the most anticipated matchup of the season so far as there are many stories to watch in this game.
First, there is the beef, or the lamb chops and gravy, or whatever you want to call what has been going on between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown since the trade. In the preseason, as they were both warming up, they didn’t even acknowledge each other. There has been a back and forth of words between them ever since. Also there is the story of Paul George returning to Philly for the first time and of Jaylen Brown and PG13 facing their former teams. There is also the story of the long time rivalry between the Celtics and 76ers and the teams who faced each other in the 2nd round of the playoffs last season.
There is also the story of the top 2 teams in the East facing off. The 8-2 Celtics are 2nd in the East with only Philadelphia (9-2) half a game ahead of them in the standings. The Celtics have won their last 3 games and the 76ers are looking for their 2nd straight win. The Celtics are 2-2 on the road while the 76ers are 4-2 at home. The Celtics won both games in the preseason. Both teams are 2-0 in games against division rivals.
The Celtics are playing in the first of back to back games. This is their 3rd back to back set this season already. They won the first game in both of their back to back sets this season. One win was at home while the other was on the road. The Celtics are 275-200 overall all time against the 76ers. They are 94-130 in games played in Philly. They tied the series 2-2 last season, with each team winning one at home and one on the road.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the off season, trading Paul George to the Celtics to get Jaylen Brown. They also signed LeBron James, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti and Anfernee Simons as free agents. They drafted Labaron Philon, Jr with the 22nd pick in the draft. Along with Paul George, they lost Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr and Andre Drummond. Mike Gansey also replaced Daryl Morey as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations.
After this game, the Celtics will complete their 4 game road trip with a game in Toronto in back to back games Wednesday. Then they play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. They then play one game at home against Atlanta before playing at San Antonio and Dallas. Then it’s home against Charlotte before a game at Brooklyn.
The 76ers will host Toronto and Indiana before road games at Brooklyn and Orlando. Then they host Milwaukee, Portland and Miami before games at Indiana and Houston. Then they have a 3 game home stand against Memphis, Denver and Orlando before playing at Orlando. Next they host Dallas and play at Charlotte. They will host Houston before a 5 game Western road trip.
The Celtics have been changing their starting lineup with Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta getting starts along with Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson. The starting lineup is a work in progress for the Celtics, especially the shooting guard spot that has changed pretty much from game to game. Mike Conley got the start against the Bucks, but I’m guessing that White, Walsh, George, Tatum and Queta get the start in this one. The 76ers should start Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid.
The Celtics have no one on the injury report as of this time. Chris Cenac, Jr and the Celtics 3 two way players will likely be with Maine. The 76ers have 3 players out as of now. Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow are both out due to back injuries. Ariel Hukporti is out for the season due to a torn Achilles. Joel Embiid has been struggling with plantar faciitis but is expected to play in this game.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey
Derrick White | Getty ImagesTyrese Maxey | Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs VJ Edgecombe
Jordan Walsh | NBAE via Getty ImagesVJ Edgecombe | Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs Jaylen Brown
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesJaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Lebron James
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesLeBron James | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Jordan Walsh Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman
Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Adem Bona (back) out Dominick Barlow (back) out Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out
Head Coach Nick Nurse
Key Matchups Derrick White vs Tyrese Maxey Maxey is averaging 26.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and 34.1% from beyond the arc. His 26.9 ppg ranks 3rd in the East. He is quick and so the Celtics will need to work hard to stay in front of him. They will need Derrick White’s defense to be sharp in this one.
Paul George vs Jaylen Brown This should be an incredible matchup to watch. Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.2 steals. He is shooting 47.7% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc. I expect Brown to come in with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he is the better player among Paul George, Jayson Tatum and himself. Paul George just needs to focus on playing team ball and being his best self.
Honorable Mention Neemias Queta vs Joel Embiid Embiid is averaging 17.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He is shooting 38% from the field and 10% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to keep Embiid out of the paint and off the boards. Queta needs to find a way to stay out of foul trouble and to counter Embiid on defense.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is absolutely the key to winning this, and every, game. It is very true that defense wins championships. Shots don’t always fall but players can always play hard on defense. The Celtics are 3rd with an offensive rating of 117.9 while the 76ers are 20th with an offensive rating of 110.3. The Celtics are 4th with a defensive rating of 106.3. The 76ers aren’t far behind with a defensive rating of 107.6. The Celtics must give full out effort on defense for every minute of this game if they hope to beat the loaded 76ers team.
Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is always a big key to winning. The key to rebounding is effort and focus. The 76ers are 19th with 43.4 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 10th with 45.0 rebounds per game. The Celtics have to fight as a team to try to grab every rebound to avoid the 76ers getting 2nd chance points because the 76ers average 14.7 second chance points per game. In order to win the possession battle, the Celtics must crash the boards and fight for every rebound.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes – The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. They have to stay focused on playing basketball the right way as a team. They have to avoid getting wound up in the Tatum vs Brown and Brown vs George narratives. They have to play team ball and give all out effort to get to the basket, to defend, to rebound, to hustle after loose balls and to play hard on every possession.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics play the best when they move the ball and find the best shot. They struggle when they try to do too much individually. But, they have to be careful handling the ball and making passes. The 76ers are best in the league at taking care of the ball with just 12.9 turnovers per game. The Celtics are 12th with 14.9 turnovers per game. They have to stay focused and avoid turning the ball over.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics will be on the road once again for the 3rd straight game and they will be facing a very hostile crowd. Philly fans hate the Celtics because they have pretty much owned them in recent years. They hate Jayson Tatum because the Celtics took him with Philly’s pick after the 76ers traded up to take Markelle Fultz. They now have another reason to hate the Celtics and that is to back up Jaylen Brown who has been very bitter against the Celtics and his former running mate. There will likely be a lot of boos and the Celtics need to play through them. They have to shake off the distractions of playing on the road and stay focused on playing Celtics basketball.. They can use the boos as motivation to play even harder.
Coaching – Joe Mazzulla is in his 5th season as Celtics’ head coach. He won a title in 2024 with a very talented team that was packed with shooting stars. Now he has to win in a different way since his personnel has changed and so far he is doing a good job. Nick Nurse is in his 9th season as a head coach overall and his 4th as the 76ers head coach. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019. Nurse came out ahead in the playoffs last season. Can Mazzulla win this round?
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. They have been especially calling flops and push offs and so the Celtics need to make an effort to avoid doing both.
