What happened: Jaylen Brown said Sunday he does not expect to speak with Jayson Tatum when the 76ers host the Celtics on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. "He's on his side, I'm on my side," Brown said, adding, "Just check the ball up." It is the first meeting between the teams this season.
Why it matters: Brown was traded to Philadelphia this summer in a deal that sent Paul George to Boston. He spent a decade with the Celtics, nine seasons of it alongside Tatum, including a championship year. Brown's representatives have said he never demanded a trade.
By the numbers: Tatum is averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 2026-27 through 8 games. Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 2026-27 through 10 games. George is averaging 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 2026-27 through 9 games. Boston won 117-97 at Milwaukee on Sunday, and Philadelphia beat Chicago 127-121 the same day behind 29 points from Brown.
What to watch: Tuesday's game in Philadelphia is the first test of how Brown handles facing his former team. "We'll see how I feel when we get out there," he said.