Jaylen Brown's First Trip Back to TD Garden Comes Tonight, Probably in Street Clothes, as the Sixers Visit Boston

NBA fans, the most interesting preseason game of the weekend might not have its biggest storyline on the floor.

Philadelphia visits Boston tonight at 7 p.m. Central, 8 Eastern, at TD Garden, per NBA.com. It's the Celtics' first game back in the building since the Sixers ended their season in Game 7 of last spring's first-round series, and it could be Jaylen Brown's first time walking in with another team, writes the Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach.

In July, Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George, two future first-round picks and two second-rounders. Brown spent 10 seasons as a Celtic after going third overall in 2016. He made five All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams and was MVP of the 2024 Finals. Brad Stevens said in August that Brown's No. 7 will likely be raised to the rafters someday. The Globe also notes Brown was caught off guard by the trade and voiced frustration with how the front office handled it.

Will he play? Probably not. Brown scored a team-high 18 points in 24 minutes in Thursday's loss to Brooklyn. Afterward, Nick Nurse said Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey would likely play only one of the final two preseason games, and ESPN later reported it probably won't be this one, per the Globe. The teams meet again Oct. 16 in Philadelphia, per CelticsBlog. For Boston, tonight is likely the first chance for George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr. to play together, since the top rotation players sat out Thursday's opener in Cleveland.

The Celtics have been gracious. "I think he should be remembered as one of the greatest Celtics there's ever been," Sam Hauser said. Joe Mazzulla pointed to Brown's work off the floor: "He took on the pressure, the expectation, and the responsibility of what it means to be a role model." Hauser thinks the real homecoming is Jan. 21, Philadelphia's first regular-season visit: "I have a feeling he's got that one circled in bright marker."

Elsewhere, Memphis says center Isaiah Stewart has a moderate left ankle sprain from the Oct. 5 preseason game at Atlanta and will be reevaluated in two weeks, per NBA.com. The regular season tips Oct. 20. Get more on the NBA page. Radio question: how should Boston greet Jaylen Brown when he finally plays there?

Sources: The Boston Globe — Jaylen Brown's presence will be felt at TD Garden; NBA.com — 76ers at Celtics, Oct. 10 game page; CelticsBlog — Jaylen Brown's first return to TD Garden set for preseason; NBA.com — Grizzlies C Isaiah Stewart out 2 weeks.