PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics high five after the game during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on October 31, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After one of the most efficient offensive performances in NBA history on Friday against Brooklyn, Boston is in a groove with five wins in its last six. The Sixers arrive without their anchor, Joel Embiid, while whispers of Jayson Tatum’s return will have to wait. The spotlight points back at Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, and with a 2-1 series lead in Philadelphia’s favor, here are three questions that could decide if Boston evens things out on their home floor.
Can Boston carry Friday’s efficiency into a tighter matchup?
Friday bordered on absurd. Boston shot 66.7% from the field and 64.7% from three, finishing with the highest effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage in a single game in NBA history. They made 22 threes on 34 attempts and assisted on 38 baskets. It was a precise, collective takedown, and now comes the follow-up.
Philadelphia defends more effectively than Brooklyn, and they’ve been a bit of a thorn in Boston’s side this season. In the three prior meetings, the Sixers held the Celtics to 30.2% from three while hitting 38.7% of their own. Those games were decided by a possession or two, with Philly holding a +2 point differential across the series.
That was a different Boston team, though. Since the November 11th loss to the Sixers, the Celtics have climbed from 12th in net rating to second, and now carry the NBA’s second best offense and seventh-ranked defense. The architecture of this team has changed. They’ve built enough of a defensive infrastructure to stay in control without needing an explosive shooting night.
The wildcard tonight is Scheierman, listed as questionable after fracturing his thumb. He’s carved out a starting role, establishing himself as a useful connective piece, averaging over 25 minutes per night in the last 10 games. His presence or absence changes the rotation. If he can’t go, Mazzulla will need to redistribute minutes among his backup wings. It’s possible Ron Harper Jr. gets another opportunity, along with elevated minutes for Walsh and Gonzalez.
It’s worth noting how different this roster looks from the last time these teams met. Minott and Simons are gone. Vucevic slid above Garza into the backup center role. Walsh, Gonzalez, and Scheierman weren’t even solidified rotation players yet in those matchups — now they’re core contributors. The Celtics have cycled through roles and rotations all year and kept winning. If Scheierman is sidelined or limited, it’s just the latest version of that.
Boston doesn’t have to replicate Friday’s win over Brooklyn. They just need to execute and be good enough defensively that the offense doesn’t have to be historic to win.
Without Embiid, do the Sixers have enough?
Embiid’s absence removes the Sixers’ most reliable half-court solution, and they haven’t been the same team when he sits. With Embiid on the floor, Philadelphia carries a 121.3 offensive rating. Without him, it plummets to 113.9. That’s a significant drop, especially when facing a team that’s found a great defensive balance like Boston.
With the big man out and Paul George still serving his suspension, the offense falls solely on Maxey’s shoulders. That’s not unfamiliar territory for him — he’s been Philadelphia’s leading scorer all season. He’ll push tempo and hunt early advantages, testing Boston’s point-of-attack defense. The question is how much the supporting cast can take off his plate.
Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre are the most proven supporting options, but VJ Edgecombe is the name to watch. He torched Boston in the season opener, and his explosive downhill style could cause problems if he gets comfortable. If he and Grimes get going, Philly could have enough juice on the perimeter to stick around. If not, Maxey will likely have too much on his shoulders to keep pace.
With Derrick White as the defensive anchor, and Gonzalez and Walsh behind him, Mazzulla has length and versatility to cycle through matchups against the Sixers ball-handlers without sacrificing much on the other end. The Sixers will have to work hard to generate good looks, and without Embiid to bail them out when a possession breaks down, Boston could run away with it if their offense breaks the trend against Philly.
Can Jaylen Brown Outduel Tyrese Maxey?
Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey are both averaging 29.1 points per game, tied for fourth in the league. Both are carrying their offenses without their co-star, and have been the driving force behind their team’s success.
In the three meetings this season, Maxey has averaged 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists against Boston. Brown sits at 27, 5, and 5. Maxey has gotten the better of it, and his team has the narrow edge to show for it. Tonight is another opportunity for Brown to leave his mark with a primetime national TV showdown.
Brown’s February wasn’t quite as masterful as his elite December and January stretch, but he’s still stacking consistently strong games. Friday was another example — 28 points on 12 shots, four threes, nine assists, while never forcing the issue. He’s operating within the offense and still being its engine, creating a version of himself that helps elevate Boston’s supporting cast, while stile leaving room to take over.
Maxey presents a different kind of challenge. He’s smaller but relentless, and gets to his top gear quicker than almost any guard in the league. He can fill it up fast, and tilts momentum in just a short stretch of possessions. Boston will likely turn to White as the primary defender, but Maxey has historically found ways to put pressure on the Celtics defense.
This is a game that could turn on which primary option controls the flow, but Boston’s supporting cast is stronger, and if Brown and Maxey’s clash ends roughly equal, the Celtics should come out on top.
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