What happened: The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday in the first meeting between the rivals since their July offseason trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia and Paul George to Boston alongside multiple draft picks. Both squads enter holding the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference through the first 10 games of the 2026-27 regular season.
Why it matters: Brown's arrival helped Philadelphia recruit LeBron James in free agency, helping propel the 76ers to a conference-best 9-2 start. Boston has kept pace at 8-2 as George integrated into the lineup alongside Jayson Tatum. The early-season clash serves as an immediate test of conference supremacy for both restructured contenders.
By the numbers: Brown has recorded 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in 2026-27 through 10 games for Philadelphia, while George has recorded 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game in 2026-27 through 9 games for Boston. Philadelphia sits in first place in the Eastern Conference at 9-2 through 11 games, with Boston in second at 8-2 through 10 games.
What to watch: The 76ers host the Celtics on Tuesday night in Philadelphia to open their regular-season series.