Celtics and 76ers meet again after last season’s playoff upset

Boston visits Philadelphia tonight in a nationally televised matchup, six months after the 76ers came back from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Celtics in a seven-game first-round series. It’s the teams’ first meeting in Philadelphia since that dramatic finish.

A rematch with plenty of history

Boston entered last year’s playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s second seed and took a 3-1 lead over seventh-seeded Philadelphia. The 76ers then won three straight, closing out the series with a 109-100 victory in Game 7 at TD Garden. It was a painful collapse for the Celtics, who will have a chance to respond on the road.

Philadelphia has added even more firepower, with LeBron James joining Tyrese Maxey. The two bring different strengths: Maxey can attack off the dribble and in transition, while James can score or set up teammates. Boston will look to Jaylen Brown to lead the way after last season’s disappointing ending.

Maxey could find room to attack with defenders focused on James, and the home crowd should add to the occasion. Brown, meanwhile, has been a key scorer in this matchup and may come out looking to set an early tone.

James’s playmaking will also be worth watching. With Maxey able to move without the ball and Philadelphia’s offense built around spacing, James may have plenty of chances to create for teammates.

Elsewhere tonight, the Knicks have won three straight and host a Milwaukee team that has dropped six in a row. Later, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the 8-2 Thunder visit Portland, whose 6-3 start has made it one of the West’s early surprises.

Jalen Brunson has helped drive New York’s turnaround, and Milwaukee has struggled defensively during its losing streak. Playing at Madison Square Garden could give the Knicks another lift.