The Boston loss shows both sides of Chicago. The Celtics led 78-49 at halftime behind Payton Pritchard's 30 points and 7 threes, and then the Bulls beat them 62-47 after the break to lose by just 14. Norman Powell scored 30, rookie Caleb Wilson added 20, and Matas Buzelis and Jalen Smith had 17 each. Chicago won a 4th quarter for once. It still needs 4 of them in the same game.
The matchup to watch is size. Philadelphia's frontcourt is in bad shape: Ariel Hukporti is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, Dominick Barlow is out for at least 2 weeks with a lumbar stress response, and Tacko Fall (quad) and Jabari Walker (knee) were both out this week. That puts a lot of the paint on Embiid. Chicago should be the team that takes advantage, but its own starting center, Nic Claxton, is still out with a hamstring injury. He has been doing individual drills and hopes to practice with the team next week. Dailyn Swain also sat the Boston game with a back issue.
Philadelphia's defense hasn't had to be perfect. Holding the Knicks to 93 with a patched-up rotation is a better defensive night than Chicago has had all season. If the Bulls spot this group a 29-point halftime lead like they did in Boston, Maxey and LeBron won't give it back. The way Chicago stays in it is the second half from Friday: Powell scoring from everywhere, Wilson and Buzelis running, and a defense that gets a few stops.
Check back once the Charlotte game is final. That result and Brown's status are the 2 things that will change this preview before Monday.