Sixers face Celtics again with roster decisions still in motion
The immediate news is a busy one for Philadelphia: the Sixers host Boston tonight after a 106-144 loss in Boston last week, and several roster moves and availability notes landed Thursday and Friday morning. The bigger picture is still the same, though, the team is trying to sort out its rotation while national chatter keeps framing the season around how high the ceiling might be.
Tonight against Boston
The Sixers and Celtics meet again tonight at Xfinity Mobile Arena, which matters because it is another live look at how Philadelphia wants to line up in the preseason finale. ESPN lists the Sixers at 1-2 after last week’s 106-144 loss at TD Garden, so this is the next chance to show the gap was situational and not structural.
NBC Sports Philadelphia reported Thursday night that Anfernee Simons and Adem Bona will sit out the preseason finale. Fubo also listed Ariel Hukporti as out for the season, Tacko Fall as out at least two weeks, and Bona as day to day in its game preview, so the frontcourt depth chart remains worth watching.
Sources: Fubo, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Roster churn and the edges of the bench
PhillyVoice reported the Sixers waived Duke Miles and Saint Thomas on Thursday night and signed Taye Fields and Cris Carroll. That is the kind of move that usually gets buried, but at this stage it is part of the story: the team is still trimming the bottom of the roster while trying to identify who can stick.
Eurohoops also reported earlier today that Bona was a full participant in practice even though he is sidelined for the preseason finale. That suggests progress, even if the team is still being careful with his availability.
Sources: Eurohoops, PhillyVoice
The bigger question around this group
The Athletic said this morning that the Sixers have a wide range of outcomes, from title contender to Play-In team. That is a fair snapshot of where things stand, and it is why every rotation choice and health update carries extra weight.
The Sixer Sense added that Philadelphia was voted the team with the best offseason moves in the latest GM survey, which only sharpens the standard. If the league thinks the front office upgraded the roster, then the on-court fit has to start looking the part soon.
Sources: The Sixer Sense, The Athletic
Further reading
- Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers – Where to Watch, Stream Info, TV Channel, and Live Updates (October 16, 2026) (Fubo)
- Simons and Bona to sit out Sixers' preseason finale vs. Celtics (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
- Adem Bona progresses but sidelined for 76ers preseason finale (Eurohoops)
- Sixers waive Duke Miles and Saint Thomas, sign Taye Fields and Cris Carroll (PhillyVoice)
- 76ers earned the GM survey crown and excuses are unacceptable (The Sixer Sense)
- How good can the 76ers be? Breaking down their best and worst-case scenarios (The Athletic)
Philly Sport Daily writes this brief each morning with the help of AI, working only from the reporting linked above. Spot an error? Let us know @sport_philly.