It’s never easy for opposing teams to win at the Wells Fargo Center. Tonight, the Boston Celtics are in South Philadelphia looking to bounce back from a 105-75 loss at home to the New York Knicks. The Sixers are back after a what was supposed to be a two game weekend road trip before the game Sunday night against the Thunder was postponed due to COVID-19 contact tracing.

Injury List

Although Curry did not show up on the NBA’s injury report after missing the last five games while in health and safety protocol for testing positive for COVID-19, he will sit out tonight’s game until his conditioning improves. Hopefully we’ll see Curry back on the court Friday night for game two vs the Celtics.

Mike Scott (right knee swelling) and center Vincent Poirier (health and safety) will be out for tomorrow’s game. The Boston Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum (health and safety), Romeo Langford (right wrist), and Carsen Edwards (health and safety) for tonight’s game.

The Return of EMVPIID

Embiid did not make the weekend road trip to Memphis or Oklahoma City but will be available for tonight’s game. This is great news for the 9-5 Sixers that are currently 0-3 on the season without Joel Embiid. Embiid’s presence on the court tonight will surely clog up the paint area. Opposing teams are only averaging 43.7% percent against the Sixers this season.

Offensively, Embiid is the guy who makes everything tick for the Sixers. He’s currently averaging 26 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game and without him on the court, there’s a notable difference in how the Sixers operate offensively. Anytime Embiid is playing, the Sixers are a tough team to stop offensively because he requires so much attention and has progressed in his ability to pass out of double and triple teams to find an open teammate along the perimeter.

Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown

The Celtics are coming off their worst game of the season when they were beat up by the New York Knicks at home. Boston shot 29.8% from the floor and a disgusting 15.2% from three point range. They were bullied in the paint and got dominated on both ends of the court.

Without Tatum, it’s safe to assume the same struggles will continue tonight. If Kemba Walker can’t find his shot and the Celtics have to rely heavily on Jaylen Brown to drive the offense, it could turn into another long night for Boston.

Shake Milton

Shake Milton continues to be the Sixers’ most valuable player behind Joel Embiid. Over the past three games, Shake Milton has scored 28 points (10-18 FG), 31 points (11-15 FG), 24 points (8-13 FG). Milton continues to look like a bright young star for the Sixers and will need to continue his streak of impressive performances until Seth Curry is ready to take the court again.

Prediction

No Tatum for the Celtics and the Sixers get Joel Embiid back. The Sixers are currently -4.5 for tonight’s game and I think you have to absolutely hammer that line. The Celtics are a team in shambles and the Sixers continue to get players back and healthy. Tonight the Sixers will roll Boston at home.

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Mandatory Credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer