Tuesday’s NBA matchups: 76ers-Celtics, Trail Blazers-Spurs and Rockets-Lakers are set for Game 2s Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will not play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night as he continues his recovery from an appendectomy. The team announced Monday that Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, has begun a strength and conditioning program but has not been cleared for basketball activity, with no target date set for his return. The 76ers suffered a 123-91 loss in Game 1 at TD Garden, marking the Celtics’ largest margin of victory in a playoff opener in franchise history. Boston’s dominance was fueled by balanced scoring and strong interior play, exposing Philadelphia’s vulnerabilities without Embiid anchoring the defense and offense. Sixers star guard Tyrese Maxey acknowledged the disappointment following the lopsided defeat but emphasized the demand to move forward. “This is my fifth playoffs, so, losses, whether you lose by 7, 12, 100, they all hurt,” Maxey said. “They all don’t feel good. But this one, it sucks; we didn’t expect this at all. But we just got to play better.” In the Western Conference, the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs glance to build on their Game 1 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama made an impressive playoff debut with 35 points in San Antonio’s 111-98 win. Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter noted his team must improve when Wembanyama rests, citing the Spurs’ backup center Luke Kornet for effective defensive rebounding during those stretches. The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are likewise scheduled to play Game 2 of their first-round series on Tuesday, completing the slate of second games across the NBA playoffs.
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