clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Sixers vs Celtics: 76ers head to Boston for playoff rematch

The 76ers get their first crack at the Celtics since last season's Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night.

Elsa

With both teams still working the kinks out of slightly new rosters, the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Boston Celtics on Friday night for the first time since they met in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals.

Philadelphia is still without offseason trade acquisition Andrew Bynum but is coming off of a 77-62 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, leveling their record at 2-2 in the early portion of the season. In allowing 86.8 points per game, the Sixers' defense ranks third in the league.

Offensively, point guard Jrue Holiday is running the show, averaging 18.0 points, 9.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, but Philadelphia's 83.3 points per game ranks 30th in the NBA.

The Celtics, who defeated the Sixers in seven games last spring in a tight Eastern Conference semifinal series, got by the Washington Wizards 100-94 in overtime on Wednesday night to get back to .500. Rajon Rondo has picked up more of the scoring slack to this point, averaging 16.0 points per game along with 12.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a night. Paul Pierce leads the team in scoring with an average of 19.0 points per game.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at the TD Garden in Boston.