Sixers Host Celtics as Two 5-1 NBA Teams Clash | Gameday Report 7/82
Sixers #Sixers
The 76ers (5-1) will seek their sixth consecutive victory Wednesday, hosting the Boston Celtics (5-1) for a matchup featuring the two top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Wednesday’s contest marks the close of a season-long five-game homestand for the Sixers, who most recently notched a decisive 146-128 victory over Washington (1-5) Monday night.
Joel Embiid boasted one of the league’s most impressive stat lines in the early days of the 2023-24 season, finishing with 48 points (29 in the third quarter), 11 rebounds, and six assists, all prior to the fourth quarter.
“That’s pretty rare,” head coach Nick Nurse said of Embiid’s massive, and efficient, performance. “That’s a lot of points in 30 minutes of playing time… It seemed like he was ready.”
Nicolas Batum (11 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl, 4-5 fg), finishing at a game-high +30 in his Sixer debut, is thrilled to play alongside his longtime friend.
“I used to hate being on the other side (against Joel),” Batum said postgame. “Some guys, you’re just happy to be on their side. To be on his side, it’s fun.”
The Sixers currently boast the second-best net rating in the NBA (12.6), the third-best offensive rating (119.9), and fifth-best defensive rating (107.3).
The team leads the league in blocks per game (7.3) and fast break points per game (21.3).
The Celtics (5-1) won their first five games of the season, before falling to the Timberwolves (4-2) Monday in Minneapolis in overtime, 114-109.
Jayson Tatum leads Boston in scoring (30.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg) early in the season, while new Celtic Jrue Holiday has led the team in assists (5.3 apg).
Fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown has averaged 23.2 points and 6.2 rebounds through the first six games of the year.
Wednesday’s matchup in Philadelphia marks the end of Boston’s three-game road trip.
Wednesday’s contest is a 7 p.m. ET start in Philadelphia.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Philadelphia is expected to wear their royal blue Icon Edition uniforms, with Boston in their white Association Edition uniforms.
MONDAY’S KEY PERFORMANCES
76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse when asked if it’s possible for people to get too amped up for an early-season game like this one against Boston…
“I mean, it’s okay. Obviously the standings say the two teams have played well. I know it’s six games each. I just look at it as this – two teams with a lot of talent, two teams that are playing pretty good. We need the challenge. I keep saying that, I’m looking forward to the challenge to see what levels we go up in effort, intensity, concentration, execution, all those kinds of things. It’s okay, everybody should get amped up. You should watch this game [Wednesday], if you’re not going to be there.”
