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Opinion

Sixers-Celtics preview: Needing to get Joel Embiid involved early

Joel Embiid can't become a bystander early in the teams' fourth meeting of the season.

Joel Embiid trying to dribble past the Celtics' Aron Bynes in the NBA London game.
Joel Embiid trying to dribble past the Celtics' Aron Bynes in the NBA London game.Read moreSimon Cooper / For the AP
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

76ers (20-20)  at Boston Celtics (34-11)

Thursday at 7 p.m., at TD Garden

Talking points

The Sixers must make a conscious effort of feeding Joel Embiid the ball.  The franchise center was basically a bystander early in the NBA London loss to the Celtics on Jan. 11 at The O2 Arena.  He never got in rhythm as the Sixers blew a 22-point lead en route to a 114-103 loss.

How to watch and follow the game

  1. TV and streaming: NBC Sports Philadelphia

  2. Radio: 97.5 FM

  3. Twitter: @PompeyOnSixers

Starting lineups

Sixers (20-20)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  13.6 ppg. 6.0 rpg

9 Dario Saric PF 6-10  13.5 ppg. 6.9  rpg.

21 Joel Embiid C 7-2 23.8 ppg. 10.8 rpg.

0 Jerryd Bayless SG 6-3  8.5 ppg. 1.4 apg.

25 Ben Simmons PG 6-10 16.8 ppg. 7.3 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (fifth season, 95-273)

Injury report: Markelle Fultz (right shoulder rehabilitation, out); Furkan Korkmaz (Lisfranc fracture, out); JJ Redick (fractured left knee, out); Richaun Holmes (gastroenteristis, out).

Celtics  (34-11)

0 Jayson Tatum SF 6-8 13.8 ppg 5.4 rpg.

42 Al Horford PF 6-10 13.4  ppg. 7.9 rpg.

46 Aron Baynes C 6-10 6.0  ppg. 5.3 apg.

7 Jaylen Brown SG 6-7 14.3 ppg. 5.6 rpg.

11 Kyrie Irving PG 6-3 24.1 ppg. 5.0 apg.

Coach: Brad Stevens (fifth season, 200-173)

Injury report:  Gordon Hayward (left ankle rehab, out); Kyrie Irving (sore left shoulder, questionable); Marcus Smart (sick, questionable); Guerschon Yabusele (sick, questionable); Abdel Nader (sick, questionable).

Head to head

The Celtics have a 258-185 series lead after winning this season's first three meetings. Boston has won 13 of last 14 games vs. the Sixers.

Coming games

Saturday: 7:30 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Milwaukee Bucks at Sixers

Monday: 8 p.m., at FedEx Forum, Sixers at Memphis Grizzlies

Wednesday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Chicago Bulls at Sixers

Jan. 26: 8:30 p.m., AT&T Center, Sixers at San Antonio Spurs

Jan 28: 6 p.m., Chesapeake Energy Arena, Sixers at Oklahoma City Thunder