Boston Celtics Hand Philadelphia 76ers Their First Loss in 109-108 Thriller

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have played two incredible games this season. Philadelphia pulled off an incredible comeback win on opening night, and fell just short of doing it once again last night. Boston was able to hold on, winning their third straight after starting the season off 0-3.

Celtics Hold On In Tight Game

Boston got off to a blazing start in this game, having a 24-point lead at one point in the first half. The 76ers were able to close the gap late in the second quarter and eventually tied things in the third. Unfortunately, they fell short of another comeback after failing to score on their final two offensive possessions of the game. The Celtics capitalized on Philadelphia’s 18 turnovers, which was the deciding factor in this game.

Jaylen Brown led the team in scoring with 32 points, with Anfernee Simons behind him with 19. Brown was extremely efficient, shooting over 68% from the field and well over 50% from three. He made a ton of tough shots, and the 76ers weren’t able to stop him in all four quarters. Simons, on the other hand, made Philadelphia pay with his blazing speed, having a +23 +/- when he was on the floor.

They were able to execute the perfect game plan, putting a ton of pressure on the 76ers, which created a ton of turnovers. Philadelphia’s had one of the worst transition defenses in the entire NBA this season, and the Celtics took full advantage of it. 

76ers Couldn’t Complete The Comeback

All season long, the 76ers have fought hard, overcoming multiple double-digit deficits. Even though they lost, it was still a battle until the very end. This team last year rolled over when they faced the slightest bit of adversity, but they have flipped a switch so far in 2025. They still are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and in first place in their division.

The more encouraging news was how well Joel Embiid was able to move around. He looked extremely comfortable, putting up 20 points in just 25 minutes. Embiid is responding well to the increased minutes each night and should be back to playing fully in just a couple of weeks. 

Tyrese Maxey led the team in scoring once again, dropping 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 14 assists. The young star continues to shine in Philadelphia and was inches away from making what would’ve been the game-winning shot late in the fourth quarter.

Along with the turnovers, I thought Nick Nurse cost the Sixers this game. Some of the lineups he put out there late in the game were very questionable, allowing Boston to get themselves back into the game with 16 offensive rebounds. The Celtics were just crashing the glass tonight, which gave them ample opportunities on offense.