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The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have a rich postseason history and, for decades, stood as one of the league’s original rivalries. It was one with epic performances and finishes, especially in the 1980s, when their playoff series often sent the eventual NBA champion to the NBA Finals.

Fast forward to today, and there’s a scent of a rivalry brewing again, if only because their first-round series is tied at one game each and suspense has entered the building.

The Sixers have the next two games in Philly and should have an emotional boost. Expect all the old-time legends (like Allen Iverson and Julius Erving) to sit courtside and provide motivation.

However, Iverson and Erving can’t suit up and play for the Sixers. It’s up to the current players lacking in championship experience to keep the series moving in a positive direction. That won’t be a simple task against a team that’s healthier, bringing higher expectations and championship mettle with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Whether this series elevates in terms of intrigue and intensity, therefore, falls on the shoulders of the Sixers and whether they can either maintain the home court or at least split the next two games.

Here’s what to watch for Game 3 tonight (7 ET, Prime Video) in Philadelphia:

1. What is Maxey’s mindset?

The following statement is to be taken in context and isn’t meant to offer a comparison. Now that it’s understood, here goes — the last time the Sixers were led in the playoffs by a quicksilver point guard who caused whiplash and broke ankles and was tough to contain was Iverson.

The latest problem for other teams is Tyrese Maxey, who can shift gears off the dribble and change directions on a dime and score on anyone the Celtics offer up in defense. Sometimes two Celtics.

How Maxey craves the ball in big moments is something to behold. He was always a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body, although in his case, that’s not such a bad thing.

If Maxey has the will, the Sixers might find a way to win more than a game against Boston. And Maxey definitely has the will.

The playoffs have a way of exposing you for the player you truly are, with every game and often every possession magnified along with the demands. Some players gravitate toward this, while others regress.

Maxey’s shooting hasn’t always been sharp in this series, but he doesn’t allow the misses to discourage him. As the Sixers continue without Joel Embiid, Maxey can’t afford to lose confidence.

2. Embiid’s status for Game 3

The elephant in the room, metaphorically speaking, of course, is the former Kia MVP and Sixers starting center. He can change an entire game or maybe even a best-of-seven series, but is currently inactive because of injury. The identity of that person isn’t very hard to know.

This has been Embiid’s career, for the most part. His games played and games missed, if placed on opposite ends of a scale, would show an even balance. This season, he played just 38 games.

But the longer the Sixers stretch this series, the more the possibility — nothing certain, but still — that Embiid, upgraded as doubtful for Game 3, could heal up in time to see action.

The last thing the Sixers will do is rush their big man back from an emergency appendectomy, which he suffered on April 9. He has entered the next phase of his rehab, but hasn’t done any contact drills. That means it’s safe to assume he’s more likely not to play than to play, which means more Adem Bona and Andre Drummond in the post.

But Sixers fans can dream. If somehow this series is tougher than anyone imagined and Embiid, who averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, finds a way to suit up … well, let’s just pencil that in for the event of the entire playoffs.

3. Brown ready to take over?

The one constant for the Celtics, not only in this series but all season, is Jaylen Brown and his high level of performance. He’s averaging 31 ppg in the playoffs and is the only Celtics player hitting his 3-pointers (at 50%). All this comes on the heels of a Kia MVP-flavored regular season where he carried the Celtics for stretches and finished among the league’s top scorers and rebounding guards.

His next trip, if it becomes necessary, is to carry the Celtics through this series, especially if the 3-pointers don’t fall for his teammates and the Sixers somehow get juiced by two home games.

Speaking of the home court, the Celtics are not pushovers on the road. Only Detroit, San Antonio and Oklahoma City were better in hostile arenas. And again, this was without Tatum for the most part.

Brown enjoys being one of the league’s top players, an ascent that began with his performance in the 2024 NBA Finals, and he intends to keep his place in line. The best way is to be the finest player on the floor, starting with this series.

In that sense, so far anyway, it’s Brown vs. Maxey. Who will be the last player standing at the end?

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

Victor Wembanyama’s health status and Jrue Holiday’s overall play are among the factors to watch as Game 3 nears.

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San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama’s availability after sustaining a concussion in Game 2 against the Portland Trail Blazers is the biggest storyline heading into Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference series. 

If he plays, it means he has met the return-to-participation conditions listed in the NBA concussion policy summary, which includes no concussion-related symptoms at rest, clearance by a team physician, completion of an exertion process and confirmation from the league’s director of the concussion program. 

“It’s pretty straightforward,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “Obviously, we hope he’ll be back at some point. But we’ll allow the protocol to play out. And again, there’s nothing more important than his health.” 

As the 1-1 series moves to Portland, here are three things to watch in Game 3 on Friday (10: 30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

If Wembanyama plays vs. if he doesn’t

Wembanyama was stellar in Game 1, setting a franchise record for points in a playoff debut with 35 in the Spurs’ victory. In Portland’s Game 2 victory, Wembanyama left the game with 8:57 remaining in the second quarter when he stumbled and hit his face and head on the court. 

The numbers are stark for the Spurs when Wembanyama is on the court vs. when he is not – it’s nearly a 17-point difference per 100 possessions. If Wembanyama can’t play, center Luke Kornet will get more minutes, and he had 10 points and nine rebounds in Game 2.

Though they’re not centers, veteran Harrison Barnes and rookie Carter Bryant could receive more playing time in smaller lineups, and Johnson also has veterans Bismack Biyombo and Kelly Olynyk on his bench. 

The Trail Blazers had success with Robert Williams III on the court in Wembanyama’s absence. Williams had 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks and was plus-13 in 23 minutes in Game 2. The Blazers also have more defensive versatility with Williams and Toumani Camara when Wembanyama is not in the game. 

Can Blazers’ guards have repeat performance?

Twenty-year-old Scoot Henderson delivered 31 points on 11-for-17 shooting and Jrue Holiday, a two-time NBA champion, generated 16 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two blocks in Game 2. A similar performance from that backcourt will put Portland in an advantageous position.  

High-scoring guard Shaedon Sharpe is playing limited minutes since returning late in the season from a left fibula injury, and he is capable of an efficient performance. He had nine points on five shots in 13 minutes in Game 2.  

Fox’s production will be key

Of San Antonio’s regular starters, guard De’Aaron Fox is the oldest and the only one with playoff experience before this season. Even though it was just one series when Fox was with Sacramento, he produced against Golden State in 2023, scoring 38 points twice in the seven-game series. He had at least 24 points in four other games and at least nine assists in four games against the Warriors. 

San Antonio needs that version of Fox even if Wembanyama is available and especially if he’s not. The Spurs acquired Fox at the 2025 trade deadline to provide backcourt experience for these moments. 

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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.