Philadelphia @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2017 ) Boston 102, Philadelphia 92

The Boston Celtics began a long homestand with a thud but will try to bounce back from the rare loss when they host the rival Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Three contests after their 16-game winning streak came to an end, the Celtics' eight-game run at home was halted with Monday's 118-108 loss to Detroit, which kicked off their five-game stretch at TD Garden.

Boston was 12-for-21 from the foul line and coughed up the ball 17 times, matching its highest total since it committed 19 turnovers at Philadelphia on Oct. 20. "We had a chance to win, but we had too many mistakes," center Al Horford told reporters after he and the rest of the Celtics' frontcourt allowed Detroit's Andre Drummond to go off for 26 points and 22 rebounds. Philadelphia's star center, Joel Embiid, produced 25 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesday's 118-113 home win over Washington but reportedly will sit out the second half of the team's back-to-back contests. Former Celtic Amir Johnson could see an uptick in minutes with Embiid absent, while point guard T.J. McConnell is doubtful after leaving with a shoulder injury against the Wizards.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN Philadelphia, NBCSN Boston

ABOUT THE 76ERS (12-8): Point guard Ben Simmons showed no ill effects of a sprained ankle in a 31-point, 18-rebound performance versus the Wizards, but his final line could've been much more impressive if not for his 15-for-29 effort from the foul line. The Wizards chose to send the 21-year-old to the line repeatedly down the stretch in an effort to extend the game, and other opponents may employ a similar strategy until Simmons makes them think twice. "I never want to come out of that situation," Simmons, who is making 55.4 percent of his free throws, told reporters. "I'm not scared to shoot free throws."

ABOUT THE CELTICS (18-4): Detroit's 118 points represents a season high for an opponent against Boston, and the top scoring defense in the NBA (96.8 points) feels the problem existed above the shoulders. "We weren't as connected as we usually are on defense as a group, and we had our times, but more often than not, we weren't mentally," Horford said. "Against that team, you have to be mentally engaged at all times, because if not, they'll make you look bad, and they did." The one bright spot in the loss was a 23-point effort from Marcus Smart, who is 15-for-21 in his last two games after shooting 26.5 percent over his first 18 contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics PG Kyrie Irving is averaging 18.4 points on 40 percent shooting at home, compared to 26 on 52.2 percent on the road.

2. After hitting 16-of-34 3-pointers in a 130-point effort in a win over Orlando, Philadelphia is a woeful 6-for-46 over its last two games.

3. Boston has won six straight meetings at home.

PREDICTION: Celtics 107, 76ers 98