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Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers |
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2018-19 NBA Season, October 17. Time: Fulltime. |
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| TD Garden, Boston, MA | ||
| Boston Celtics | Philadelphia 76ers | |
| 105 | SCORE | 87 |
| 21 | Q1 | 21 |
| 26 | Q2 | 21 |
| 30 | Q3 | 24 |
| 28 | Q4 | 21 |
Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers will look to get their NBA season off to a winning start as they travel to Eastern Conference favourite the Boston Celtics on opening day. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11am (AEDT).
The Celtics, who will play four of their first six on the road in what could shape as a somewhat difficult start to the season, will need to build momentum here, and go in as favourites.
After beating the 76ers in last year’s conference semi-finals before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, they will be happy to have a fit Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back on their roster.
The duo give them a major spark, and it’s questionable whether the Cavaliers would have come from behind to beat them last year had the duo been healthy last season. While Boston are still behind the top teams out West, Irving and Hayward still have a strong supporting cast, with youngsters Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both having exceptional finishes last season.
If that quintet can gel and combine with veteran centre Al Horford (and his back-up, Aussie big man Aron Baynes), they are going to be tough to stop.
The 76ers, on the other hand, are looking to continue their excellent run from 2017-18. They were better than anyone could have anticipated last season, with the infamous ‘process’ finally starting to pay off.
After years at the bottom of the NBA, the Sixers finally had much of their talent obtained through the draft playing on the court, spearheaded by centre Joel Embiid and Aussie guard/point forward Ben Simmons.
Philadelphia improved out of sight and, as mentioned, fell to Boston in the conference semi-finals, but if Simmons doesn’t get a case of second-year syndrome, Embiid stays healthy and the other parts of their roster gel nicely, they will be in for another strong run this season.
Prediction
Boston are at home and at full strength. They should pick up a tough win to open the season.
Boston by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the opening game of the NBA season from 11am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tip-off: 11am (AEDT)
Venue: TD Garden, Boston
TV: Live, ESPN
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, WatchESPN, NBA League Pass
Betting: Celtics $1.46, 76ers $2.74
Overall record: Played 549, Celtics 316, 76ers 233
Referees: Scott Foster, Ron Garretson. Dedric Taylor
Boston Celtics (expected)
Point guard: Kyrie Irving
Shooting guard: Jaylen Brown
Small forward: Jayson Tatum
Power forward: Gordon Hayward
Centre: Al Horford
Bench: Jabari Bird, Terry Rozier, P.J. Dozier, Aron Baynes, Walt Lemon, Marcus Morris, Smie Ojeleye, Marcus Smart, Daniel Teheis, Brad Wanamaker, Robert Williams, Guerschon Yabusele
Philadelphia 76ers (expected)
Point guard: Markelle Fultz
Shooting guard: Ben Simmons
Small forward: Robert Covington
Power forward: Dario Saric
Centre: Joel Embiid
Bench: JJ Redick, Jerryd Bayless, Jonah Bolden, Wilson Chandler, Markelle Fults, Amir Johnson, Furkan Korkmaz, TJ McConnell, Mike Muscala, Landry Shamet, Demetrius Jackson, Shake Milton
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018-19 NBA Season opener. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Be sure to join us here on The Roar from 5pm (AEDT) today for the second day of the second Test between Pakistan and Australia. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Boston have gotten their season off to a winning start at The Garden, beating the 76ers by 18 points. The Celtics will have happy with that - Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving were all solid. Ben Simmons has made a great start to his season as well, falling just two assists short of a triple double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Despite that, Philadelphia were just never able to get control of that game on the road and in the end, the result the game deserved was what it got. Boston Celtics - 105 Philadelphia 76ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Philadelphia emptying their bench now as well. Celtics - 103 76ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Celtics through Rozier, but that's no good on the shot from the high post. Simmons now with a miss from the high post, but he scampers back in defence to stop another. Celtics - 103 76ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Celtics starting to clear the bench here as Simmons gets back to the free throw line. Tatum and Hayward among the players going to the bench. Simmons misses both. Celtics - 103 76ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Sixers get a stop, then it's Saric to Embiid who lines up a three, but that's no good. No mistakes from Hayward at the other end and he sinks a corner three. Celtics - 103 76ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Embiid works on Horford into the low post here and he drops it in, cutting the lead to 13, but the Sixers need everything to go right for them from this point out. Celtics - 100 76ers - 87
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Tatum to the free throw line here. He makes one. Celtics - 100 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Timeout on the floor. Celtics - 99 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q3 2' Rozier with a three and that extends the lead to 14 in the final three minutes. Long, long way back now. Celtics - 99 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Simmons misses on a tough shot and the clock is starting to become the enemy now as there is a foul committed on Rozier by Saric. Celtics - 96 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Joel Embiid forced to turn it over under heavy pressure in the low block, but then Boston mess that opportunity to extend the lead up with a turnover in transition. Celtics - 96 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Tatum working on Embiid here. Filthy crossover and then a high-arcing shot off the backboard. Wonderful stuff there. Celtics - 96 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Embiid good on both and the lead is 9. Celtics - 94 76ers - 85
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The 76ers with a miss at the other end here, before Horford misses a catch and shoot three. Embiid fouled under the basket on the rebound and we walk the floor for free throws. Celtics - 94 76ers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Saric through the lane now and he misses, going far too hard off the rim. Smart to Morris at the other end, he crosses over, gets some space on Covington and misses. Celtics - 94 76ers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Great defence here. Boston with a shot clock violation. Celtics - 94 76ers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Simmons with one at the line. He has 19. Celtics - 94 76ers - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Foul against Boston after a turnover here. Philadelphia into the bonus. Simmons back to the line. Celtics - 94 76ers - 82