Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers will travel to TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, to face the Boston Celtics in one of the marquee matchups of the NBA’s opening week. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with fans eager to see how both teams begin their 2025–26 campaigns. This matchup between two long-standing Eastern Conference rivals is expected to set the tone for both clubs’ seasons, as the Celtics look to maintain their championship-caliber form and the Sixers aim to reassert themselves as contenders with Joel Embiid back in action.

Boston enters the game short-handed, as Jayson Tatum remains out while recovering from Achilles surgery, and Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable due to a left hamstring issue that limited his preseason minutes. The Celtics will likely rely more heavily on Jrue Holiday and Derrick White for offensive creation, while new rotation players such as Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh could see increased minutes. Philadelphia, meanwhile, welcomes back Joel Embiid after his extended injury layoff, but will miss Paul George, who continues to recover from knee surgery. Rookie guard Jared McCain is also sidelined following thumb surgery. This means Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Kelly Oubre Jr. will shoulder more scoring responsibility in the starting lineup.

For head coach Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics, the main focus will be maintaining their defensive identity despite missing key offensive firepower. Expect Boston to rely on strong perimeter defense, quick ball movement, and spacing from three-point range to compensate for Tatum’s absence. Nick Nurse, on the other hand, is emphasizing discipline in transition and inside-out play centered on Embiid. Nurse’s strategy has often involved staggering rotations to maximize offensive balance while tightening defensive coverages around the paint. The Sixers are likely to play at a controlled pace to exploit mismatches inside and protect against Boston’s transition game.

Pre-game media coverage has focused heavily on how both teams are managing health and chemistry. Many reporters in Philadelphia have highlighted Embiid’s return as a morale boost, while Boston outlets question how the team will adapt without Tatum early in the year. National analysts note that the Celtics still possess one of the league’s deepest rosters, giving them a slight advantage at home, but they also warn that the Sixers’ improved defensive schemes under Nurse could make the game tighter than expected. The conversation surrounding Maxey’s evolution into a lead guard has also been a major talking point heading into tip-off.

Studio analysts have been breaking down the tactical matchups, with several pointing out the frontcourt battle between Embiid and Kristaps Porziņģis as the key to the night. Others highlight how Boston’s guard rotation, led by Holiday and White, could dictate tempo and control possessions. ESPN and TNT panels have both emphasized how the Sixers’ bench depth, including contributions from veterans like Nicolas Batum and Mo Bamba, will be critical to sustaining momentum if Embiid is limited in minutes. Overall, analysts agree that this early-season clash will be a strong litmus test for both teams — revealing how well Boston adapts to adversity and how ready Philadelphia is to challenge for the East crown again.

Watch and Download Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics – Wednesday 22 October, 2025, NBA Full Game and Highlights Replay 2025-2026 – NBA Regular Season.

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