Steve Clifford and Brett Brown will match coaching wits tonight in a NBA preseason game in Philly. The winner in this one doesn't really matter much but the three times they meet later in the season will be dead serious.

Clifford  enters his second season as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets. He led the team to a winning season and a first round playoff series as a rookie coach and expectations are high for this year.

Brown enters his second season as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. He is trying to rebuild the franchise from the ground up. There are much lower expectations in Philly.

Clifford played his college ball at UMaine Farmington and began his coaching career as boys coach at Woodland HS.

Brown, who was inducted into the new Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in August, spent years as top assistant for Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs.

Clifford is coaching pros such as Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Brown's roster includes players such as Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

After tonight's preseason game, Clifford and Brown meet three times during the regular season. The first matchup is December 19th.

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