Just a day removed from enacting their vengeance against the Philadelphia 76ers in another one-point nailbiter and winning their third straight game this season

Last season the Celtics ranked 29th in the NBA in pace, averaging 96.59 possessions per game. This season they are also 29th, but coach Joe Mazzulla does not view this metric as an accurate representation of overall pace.

The 76ers will be down a pair of rotation players as they face the Celtics at 7 p.m. Friday from Philadelphia. Paul George (left knee surgery) and Jared McCain (right thumb surgery) are both out for Friday’s contest as they have yet to play this season.

So far, the Celtics haven’t found a way to look like a contender without their star. Jaylen Brown (26.0 ppg) has picked up much of the scoring slack, but the loss of Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis has left this roster looking dangerously thin compared to last season.

The Boston Celtics have rebounded from an 0-3 start to the regular season to win three consecutive games. Coming into their Saturday matchup against the Houston Rockets, the Celtics got several injury updates for a couple of key players including Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, as per the NBA’s official injury report.

The Sixers came back from 19 points down to beat Washington 139-134 in overtime on Tuesday in D.C. Tyrese Maxey posted game highs of 39 points and 10 assists in 47 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back. Joel Embiid scored 25 points in 23 minutes, while Quentin Grimes added 23 points off the bench.

The Celtics would have had their hands full with the Rockets remade roster on Saturday night even if they were playing at full strength. Coming on the heels of four games in six nights, Boston didn’t stand much of a chance against a well-rested Rockets squad.

The Boston Celtics’ slow start sparked panic, but with Jayson Tatum recovering, the team regaining rhythm, the playoffs seems in reach.