Jayson Tatum and the Celtics went 2-0 against the Warriors last season.

• Get NBA League Pass TODAY >

The NBA is set to play a 12-game schedule tonight, headlined by an ESPN doubleheader with a tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics in Boston, for the first time since a dramatic setback last year March, followed by Paul George’s return to Los Angeles when the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Clippers at 10 p.m. ET.

A final rematch with high stakes

Since meeting in the 2022 NBA Finals, the Warriors and Celtics have picked up victories in competitive games, including two overtime thrillers. However, theirs are last meeting On March 3, it was a different story as Boston earned a 140-88 victory, marking one of the Celtics’ third-largest wins and the Warriors’ fourth-largest defeat in franchise history.

Both teams enter tonight with impressive records – Boston at 7-1 and Golden State at 6-1 – and show strength on both ends of the court. The Celtics lead the NBA in offense and rank fourth in defense, while the Warriors are close behind, ranking fourth in offense and second in defense.

Important things to keep in mind:

• Tatum’s goalscoring record: Jayson Tatum is averaging 30 points per game while shooting a career-high 48.1% from the field
• Bank bomber: Look for sharpshooters Buddy Hield (4.7 3s per game) and Payton Pritchard (4.0 3s per game) to make an impact from beyond the arc as they lead their teams’ bench units in 3-pointers.

Paul George and the 76ers will head to the Intuit Dome tonight.

Paul George returns to LA as a Sixer

In the nightcap, Paul George returns to LA, where he played the last five seasons, now wearing the Philadelphia 76ers jersey. George made his Sixers debut on Monday, scoring 15 points and will now face the Clippers at their new home, the Intuit Dome.

Important things to keep in mind:

• Harden’s historic rise: James Harden is just 16 three-pointers away from passing Ray Allen for second on the all-time list, while his defensive prowess remains strong with 24 deflections this season.
• Maxey’s rising star: With Joel Embiid out, Tyrese Maxey is the leading scorer, averaging 30.2 points per game, third in the NBA.