Skip to content
Opinion
Link copied to clipboard

Sixers-Celtics preview: Trying to win without Joel Embiid, T.J. McConnell

The Celtics look to rebound after suffering an 118-108 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday. That might not be a problem against a Sixers squad without standout center Joel Embiid and T.J. McConnell.

Sixers’ guard T.J. McConnell is injured while playing the Wizards during the third quarter of the Sixers’ win over the Wizards on Wednesday.
Sixers’ guard T.J. McConnell is injured while playing the Wizards during the third quarter of the Sixers’ win over the Wizards on Wednesday.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

76ers (12-8) at Boston Celtics (18-3)

Thursday at 7:30 p.m., at TD Garden

Talking points

The Celtics look to rebound after suffering an 118-108 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday.  That shouldn't be a problem against a Sixers squad without standout center Joel Embiid and backup point guard T.J. McConnell. McConnell bruised his left shoulder on Wednesday against the Wizards. Embiid will miss the game due to not being cleared to play on consecutive nights … Boston has one of the league's best players in point guard Kyrie Irving. Meanwhile, second-year shooting guard Jaylen Brown and rookie small forward Jayson Tatum are arguably the league's top young wing tandem.

How to watch and follow the game

  1. TV and streaming: NBC Sports Philadelphia

  2. Radio: 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @PompeyOnSixers

Starting lineups

Sixers (12-8)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  14.9 ppg. 1.7 spg

9 Dario Saric PF 6-10  10.9 ppg. 6.2 rpg.

5 Amir Johnson C 6-10 4.4 ppg. 5.8 rpg.

17 JJ Redick SG 6-4  15.3 ppg. 3.5 apg.

25 Ben Simmons PG 6-10 18.7 ppg. 9.5 rpg.

Coach: Brett Brown (fifth season, 87-261)

Injury report: Markelle Fultz (right shoulder scapular muscle imbalance, out); Justin Anderson (left shin splints, out); TJ McConnell (left shoulder bruise, out); Joel Embiid (rest, out)

Celtics (18-3)

0 Jayson Tatum SF 6-8 13.7 ppg 5.4 rpg.

13 Marcus Morris PF 6-9 12.7  ppg. 5.4 rpg.

42 Al Horford PF 6-10 13.6  ppg. 8.2 rpg..

7 Jaylen Brown SG 6-7 15.6 ppg. 6.3 rpg.

11 Kyrie Irving G 6-3 22.8 ppg. 5.3 apg.

Coach: Brad Stevens (fifth season, 184-166)

Injury report: Gordon Hayward (left ankle fracture, out)

Head to head

The Celtics have a 255-185 series advantage.

Coming games

Saturday: 7:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Detroit Pistons vs. Sixers

Monday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Phoenix Suns vs. Sixers

Dec. 7: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sixers

Dec. 9: 8 p.m.,. at Quicken Loans Arena, Sixers at Cleveland Cavaliers

Dec. 10: 7 p.m.., at Smoothie King Center, Sixers at New Orleans Pelicans