Boston went the other way. They sat 8 players, including Tatum, George, White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta, and still won 124-113 in Cleveland. The backups beat the Cavaliers 74-46 on the boards. When Cleveland cut a 9-point halftime lead to 3, Boston answered by winning the 4th quarter 25-17. Whether Joe Mazzulla's starters suit up at the Garden is the open question. The Celtics haven't said if Thursday's rest days roll into Saturday.
Philly's injury list is mostly a frontcourt problem. Ariel Hukporti is done for the season with a ruptured right Achilles. Adem Bona (left foot) and Dominick Barlow (back) aren't expected to play in Brooklyn or Boston. Tacko Fall is out at least 2 weeks with a left hip strain. That leaves Embiid with very little size behind him. It matters even more against a Boston roster that just won the glass by 28. Anfernee Simons (right hamstring) is also expected to sit, so the guard depth is thinner too.
Tipoff is 8:00 PM ET at TD Garden. The scoreboard means nothing, so watch the details. How long does Brown play in his first trip back? Does LeBron keep passing up shots or start looking for his own? Does Tatum take the floor against the guy he won a title with? And can the Sixers keep the turnovers from Brooklyn from becoming a habit?