Boston @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 12, 2019 ) Philadelphia 115, Boston 109

Star center Joel Embiid will be on the sidelines when the Philadelphia 76ers host the rival Boston Celtics on Thursday. Embiid dislocated his left ring finger during Monday's victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder with the digit pointing in a grotesque direction at one point before he returned to the game.

The 76ers are still waiting to receive a timetable of how long Embiid will be sidelined but he didn't regret his return to the court and helping the squad snap a four-game losing streak. "It was pretty bad," Embiid told reporters. "I basically could only play with one hand. It was really bad. But in the midst of the losing streak, I just wanted to make sure that I do everything possible to get us a win, and I was glad to get us a win." Philadelphia is 2-0 this season against the Celtics, who have lost two consecutive games after falling 129-114 to the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Boston never led in the contest, trailed by as many as 23 and allowed its second most points of the season.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, NBCS Philadelphia, TSN5

ABOUT THE CELTICS (25-10): Star guard Kemba Walker returned from a three-game absence due to illness but played just 18 minutes - scoring only six points - as he was ejected in the third quarter after contesting a no-call when a hard screen by San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge sent him flying to the floor. "The ref missed the call and I just voiced my opinion a little bit and the rest was history," Walker told reporters afterward. "First time I've ever been ejected in my whole life ... I am a two-time sportsmanship award winner as well. So maybe I should get a little leeway." Small forward Gordon Hayward scored a team-best 18 points versus the Spurs and knocked down a season-best four 3-pointers.

ABOUT THE 76ERS (24-14): Veteran power forward Al Horford, who spent the past three seasons with Boston, figures to receive more of a role with Embiid out and he tallied 13 points against the Thunder after scoring seven or fewer in each of the previous four games. "You say 'What does the world look like without Joel?' and my mind immediately goes to defense," Philadelphia coach Brett Brown told reporters. "You can talk about Al and what role is he in now, maybe there's a line drawn through both of those for a period of time, but I'm looking forward to seeing him play against his old team (Thursday)." Horford, who is in his 13th season, is shooting a career-worst 45.3 percent from the field while averaging 12.3 points, which would be his lowest mark since the 2008-09 campaign.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The 76ers have won the past three regular-season meetings after the Celtics won 17 of the previous 19.

2. Boston PF Jayson Tatum is averaging 15.5 points while making 13-of-36 shots over the past two games after scoring 24 or more in six of the previous nine contests.

3. Philadelphia had 31 assists against Oklahoma City and is 9-1 this season when recording 30 or more.

PREDICTION: Celtics 105, 76ers 100