The Boston Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, according to Brad Stevens.
Tatum reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, which sparked a slew of absences that forced three games to be postponed. Robert Williams also tested positive and rejoined the team this week. Carsen Edwards is out due to health and safety protocols.
The Celtics planned to travel to Philadelphia, even though the Sixers postponed their previous game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to player absences. Boston and Philadelphia are scheduled to face off twice at the Wells Fargo Center before the Celtics fly back to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Boston on Sunday. Per Stevens, Tatum’s status for Friday is still “to be determined.”
After a hot start, the Sixers are 6-4 in their last 10 games and 9-5 overall. They are tied with the Pacers for second in the East, just behind the Celtics.
Speaking to the media via Zoom, Stevens called Philadelphia a “really good team.”
“Obviously, [Joel] Embiid and [Ben] Simmons are special,” Stevens said. “They’ve surrounded those guys with really good players. The guards are playing great — [Tyrese] Maxey and [Shake] Milton are having a great year, Tobias Harris is a really good player, obviously, and on down the line. They’ve got a really nice team and not a surprise they’ve started the way they’ve started.”
The Celtics and Sixers tip off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
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