Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers Live NBA Updates, Scores and Highlights

Lamb chops and gravy are on the menu Tuesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. This is to say, the Philadelphia 76ers are playing host to the Boston Celtics.

Not only is this a matchup of the top-two seeds in the Eastern Conference, but it marks the first time Jaylen Brown will square off against his former team in a game that matters. Will he go kaboom out of pure vengeance? How will he interact with Jayson Tatum following months of speculation about their relationship?

Do the Sixers run some sort of free lamb chops and gravy special if an opponent misses two consecutive free throws?

Follow all the action (and beef) below as we drop the latest updates, highlights, analysis and takeaways from one of this year's most anticipated showdowns.

This defense from Hugo is so good that not even 31-year-old LeBron would have made this layup.

In my professional opinion, rather than missing all of his threes, Joel Embiid should try making some of them. It's a bold strategy, but I think it could work out for him.

The Sixers are currently down by a dozen on the heels of a Celtics three-point barrage. Sam Hauser is on fire. Hugo González even hit a three, which isn't what he does.

Boston is now a plus-18 from beyond the arc, a plus-eight in the paint and handedly winning the bench-points battle.

Score: Celtics 44, Sixers 32 | 2:41 remaining in the second quarter

LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe have combined to make exactly four field goals through the first 18 minutes of action.

Jaylen Brown Saw This Going Differently in his Head

Payton Pritchard is also currently outplaying Jaylen Brown. He, Paul George and Jayson Tatum have combined for 28 points.

Boston has opened up an 11-point lead and forced a Nick Nurse timeout.

Score: Celtics 45, Sixers 34 | 7:14 remaining in the second quarter

On a related note: The Celtics have eight makes at the rim. The Sixers have just three.

With Charlotte imploding, can we figure out a way to get Moussa Diabaté to Philly?

Boston Takes a 7-Point Lead into the Second Quarter

Jayson Tatum going nuclear and Boston outscoring Philly in the paint, 14-6, are among the biggest differences so far.

The Celtics are also a plus-nine from beyond the arc already—a huge deal knowing how poorly the Sixers have shot threes this season.

Score: Celtics 30, Sixers 23 | End of the first quarter

...then man, oh man, do we have the Joel Embiid game for you!

Six free-throw attempts is just the tip of the iceberg, too. Embiid is headed to the line for three more after Mitchell Robinson, for some reason, treated him like the five alarm fire he is not from beyond the arc.

Jayson Tatum is up to nine points on 3-of-5 shooting. Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown went to the bench after picking up his second foul.

Score: Celtics 26, Sixers 20 | 2:41 remaining in the first quarter

Boston is Attempting to Match Embiid's Enormity

This isn't quite a hockey-line change, but it's pretty darn close. With so many reserve Sixers bigs injured, though, we could see less of Mitchell Robinson against Philly's secondary units that have Embiid on the bench.

This might be the easiest bucket Tatum gets all night.

Jaylen Brown Intercepts a Jayson Tatum Pass

Did VJ Edgecombe cause that, or did Tatum just forget JB wasn't on his team anymore?

The pace is blistering so far in this one. That favors Boston so long as Joel Embiid is on the floor.

Score: Celtics 17, Sixers 12 | 7:12 remaining in the first quarter

Jaylen Brown Gave Jayson Tatum the Cold Shoulder

So maybe there is beef rather than just lamb chops and gravy between these two after all.

I suppose "SUCKS!" rolls off the tongue a bit easier than "He's got a great PR team!"

This will be just the second time on the season Boston rolls out the fivesome of Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta.

This better lead to Jaylen Brown jacking, like, 25-plus shots while insisting on being the primary Jayson Tatum defender all night.

With all this build-up, anything less would be a disappointment.

Nick Nurse Comments on Paul George's Sixers Tenure

Hopefully, everyone has some Kleenex handy. The Paul George tribute video is sure to tug at the heartstrings.

Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are on the Floor

Will one of them go over to the other to say hi or nah?

Appreciate Mr. Aaronson for getting this scoop. I had been wondering for days whether the Sixers might start Labaron Philon Jr., Anfernee Simons, Justin Edwards, Jabari Walker and Tacko Fall instead.

Has a food combination nobody really heard of ever gone mainstream this quickly?

If Xfinity Mobile Arena doesn't have some type of themed dish at the concessions, it's just leaving tons of money on the table at this point.