Can the Celtics slow down Tyrese Maxey (right) in a rematch with the 76ers?
Can the Celtics slow down Tyrese Maxey (right) in a rematch with the 76ers?Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Spirits are suddenly high around the Celtics, who routed the Cavaliers on Wednesday to make it two straight wins after an 0-3 start to the season.
Boston will get a chance to rectify one of those early losses with a Friday trip to Philadelphia, in which the Celtics will take on the 76ers in the opening round of the NBA Cup.
As in previous years, NBA Cup games will count toward teams’ regular-season records with four teams from each conference advancing to a knockout tournament.
Boston will be looking to slow down the 76ers backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who combined to torch the Celtics for 74 points in a Philadelphia win on opening night.
The 76ers stayed hot after that victory at TD Garden, winning their first four games to enter Friday’s matchup unbeaten.
Tip-off in Philadelphia is set for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on Amazon Prime.
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia
TV, radio: Amazon, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Philadelphia -1.5. O/U: 234.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 2-3. vs. spread: 2-3. Over/under: 2-3
Last 10 games: 4-6. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 4-6
76ERS
Season record: 4-0. vs. spread: 2-2. Over/under: 4-0
Last 10 games: 5-5. vs. spread: 4-5, 1 push. Over/under: 7-3
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Boston 114.2, Philadelphia 129.3
Points allowed per game: Boston 107.2, Philadelphia 123.8
Field goal percentage: Boston .446, Philadelphia .469
Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .400, Philadelphia .488
3-point percentage: Boston .331, Philadelphia .419
Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .327, Philadelphia .340
Stat of the day: Maxey is off to a sizzling start, averaging 37.5 points and 8.3 assists while knocking down 47.4% of his 3-pointers.
Notes: The Celtics rolled over the Cavaliers 125-105 on Wednesday as Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Sam Hauser added 21, and three other Celtics registered a double-double. “Five games in; we’ve got 77 left,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We’ve got to do it every night. ... But there was a lot of minutes over the last two, three games where [I’ve thought], ’This is who we have to be.’” ... Philadelphia rallied for a 139-134 overtime win Tuesday over the host Wizards. “We don’t want this to become a habit, but it does say that we’re tough,” Maxey said. ... Former MVP Joel Embiid is still nursing a knee injury that is limiting him to about 20 minutes per game. However, he has made the most of those minutes in his last two outings, including a 25-point performance against the Wizards. “it’s extremely annoying,” Embiid said of the minutes restriction, “but as long as we win, I’m happy. When we lose and I feel like I could have done something, then I might feel some type of way. We’re winning. So, I don’t really care.”
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.