Sixers-Celtics Game Thread, Volume 2

The preseason game may almost take a backdrop to today’s Embiid extension news, with the details still being worked out related to guarantees and everything else, but feel free to join us to discuss game action and whatever else you choose. Tonight’s game begins at 7:30 on the channel formerly known as TCN (now NBC Sports Philadelphia +) and NBA TV.

Lineups

Below are the rosters for each team - starters are in bold, while players sitting out are appropriately crossed off

76ers: Justin Anderson, Jerryd Bayless, James Blackmon III, Robert Covington, Joel Embiid, getting that money, Markelle Fultz (coming off the bench for limited minutes), Richaun Holmes, Kris Humphries, Amir Johnson, Furkan Korkmaz, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, T.J. McConnell, Emeka Okafor, Jahlil Okafor, Jacob Pullen, J.J. Redick, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, Nik Stauskas

Celtics: Aron Baynes, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Jonathan Holmes, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Shane Larkin, Marcus Morris, Abdel Nader, Semi Ojeleye, L.J. Peak, Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, Andrew White, Guerschon Yabusele

Three things to watch for:

1. Dario Saric and Ben Simmons are starting together, with Simmons the two-way point guard and Saric at his natural position. We haven’t seen this combination to date - even against Celtics backups, how will the Sixers make the combination work?
2. TLC makes his preseason debut, and he should get playing time as Covington and Redick are resting tonight. Still, he should be splitting time with Justin Anderson and Furkan Korkmaz among the backup troupe. If he plays well, he may separate himself from the group as the most likely contributor.
3. It’s only preseason, but the standard Boston sports team hype train has collected Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and branded them as two future stars. That may well be true, but can the cast of unnecessary Y’s show out during this golden opportunity against the relatively weak Sixers wing cast?

Game Officials: Ed Malloy (oh no), Tyler Floyd, Jason Goldberg