Celtics vs 76ers preseason preview shown as an empty basketball court with green and gold lighting

Celtics vs 76ers Preseason: Oct. 10 TD Garden Preview

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Celtics vs. 76ers preseason action arrives at TD Garden on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, with a scheduled 8 p.m. ET tip on NBA TV, according to NBA.com. It is Boston’s second exhibition game of the 2026-27 preseason and its first at home, and it comes two days after a 124-113 win in Cleveland in which the Celtics rested their top rotation players.

Celtics vs. 76ers Preseason: What to Know

The Celtics’ preseason schedule has four games: Oct. 8 at Cleveland, Oct. 10 vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 14 vs. Charlotte and Oct. 16 at Philadelphia, per ESPN’s team schedule. Saturday’s game is the only one of the four at TD Garden before the regular season. Preseason results carry no standings weight, so the story is mostly about who plays, who sits and how the bench handles its minutes.

Boston’s last meeting with Philadelphia was a playoff series that ended with a 109-100 76ers win on May 2, 2026, per NBA.com’s matchup history. Saturday is a different kind of game, but it is the first time the two teams share a floor since then.

Celtics Injury and Rest Report

According to the pregame reporting aggregated by Hoopsnightly and ESPN, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta were listed as day-to-day for rest. Philadelphia’s Ariel Hukporti was listed out with an Achilles injury. The Boston Globe reported that Jaylen Brown’s availability was uncertain and that he likely would not play. Preseason availability tags can change close to tip, so check the team’s final injury report before game time.

In Cleveland, the Celtics also played without Ron Harper Jr., and the team’s top two centers, Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, were out, according to the team’s recap. That left opportunity for the roster’s depth pieces.

What the Cleveland Win Showed

The 124-113 win at Rocket Arena came with the Celtics’ top seven rotation players resting, per the team’s “Keys to the Game” recap. Boston took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter and then used an 18-6 run to pull away. Luka Garza led all scorers and rebounders with 22 points and 10 rebounds, plus three blocks. Hayden Gray, Dillon Mitchell, Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries all contributed to the late surge, according to the recap.

Assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay served as co-head coaches for that game with Joe Mazzulla absent, the Boston Herald reported. It is a useful reminder of how many roster spots are still being sorted out in October. For a fuller look at who is in camp, see our Celtics training camp roster 2026 guide.

Celtics Preseason Schedule and How to Watch

Saturday’s game is listed on NBA TV and is not available as a live League Pass stream, according to NBA.com. Wednesday’s home game against Charlotte follows on Oct. 14, and Boston closes the exhibition slate at Philadelphia on Oct. 16. Tip times differ slightly between listings, so confirm on the Celtics’ official schedule. More local coverage is on our Boston sports page and in our earlier Bruins season-opener report.

Because the game is a preseason tune-up, the box score will matter less than the rotation decisions behind it. The Cleveland game showed that Boston can lean on its depth pieces: the team’s recap noted that the Celtics’ reserves handled the closing stretch against a Cavaliers group that featured its regular starters. The recap also noted that the team closed the previous regular season in a similar fashion, with a shorthanded win over Orlando.

Fans who plan to attend should note that listed tip times differ by outlet. NBA.com lists 8 p.m. ET, while ESPN’s schedule page lists a different time, so confirm with the team before heading to the Garden.

Bottom line: expect a rotation built around depth and development rather than stars. The most useful things to watch Saturday are how the center minutes get split without Queta and Robinson, and whether the young guards who closed the Cleveland game keep earning minutes.

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