The Boston Celtics (43-12) and Philadelphia 76ers (32-23) are headed in opposite directions as they prepare for a marquee showdown Thursday night in Philadelphia. This is the third meeting of the season between these two Atlantic Division rivals: Thursday’s game could mark the return of Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, giving the Sixers a much-needed boost. The Celtics dominated the first half of the season, finishing with the best record in the NBA before the All-Star break. They wrapped up the first half with a 116-103 win over San Antonio, led by: Tatum (27.0 PPG) and Brown (22.9 PPG) continue to lead Boston’s top-five scoring offense, while Porzingis has provided much-needed size and shooting in the frontcourt. “We’re going to peak

After a much-needed All-Star break, the Los Angeles Clippers (35-20, 6th in Western Conference) and Milwaukee Bucks (34-21, 5th in Eastern Conference) resume their playoff push Thursday night in Milwaukee. Both teams have new pieces to integrate, injuries to monitor, and a playoff race to navigate over the final stretch of the season. The Bucks’ biggest concern heading into Thursday’s game is the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t played since Feb. 2 due to a left calf strain. He also missed All-Star Weekend, raising questions about his availability moving forward. Star guard Damian Lillard (right hamstring strain) is also listed as questionable after missing Milwaukee’s final game before the break. However, he did participate in the 3-Point Contest and

No. 16 Marquette (20-6, 11-4 Big East) appears to have regained momentum after a rocky start to February. The Golden Eagles, fresh off two dominant wins, travel to face Villanova (15-12, 8-8 Big East) on Friday night, looking to extend their eight-game winning streak over the Wildcats. For Villanova, it’s a must-win situation. With their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, the Wildcats need to snap their recent two-game skid and prove they can compete against one of the Big East’s best. After three straight losses to UConn, St. John’s, and Creighton, Marquette has bounced back in a big way, securing double-digit victories over DePaul (86-73) and Seton Hall (80-56). In their latest win against Seton Hall, the Golden Eagles

The Big Ten’s most anticipated matchup of the season takes center stage Friday night when No. 12 Michigan (20-5, 12-2 Big Ten) hosts No. 14 Michigan State (21-5, 12-3) in a high-stakes rivalry game. With first place in the Big Ten on the line, this game is massive—not just because of the rivalry, but because it could determine who controls the conference heading into March. “We know what it means,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. Michigan has won six straight games, all by four points or fewer, proving they can handle high-pressure situations. Their latest victory was an 86-83 road win over Ohio State on Sunday. The Wolverines’ success revolves around their towering duo in the frontcourt, Vladislav Goldin (15.7