Joel Embiid struggled to find his rhythm in the Philadelphia 76ers’ season-opening 117–116 win over the Boston Celtics, shooting just 1-of-9 from the field for four points.
Tyrese Maxey instead picked up the slack and paced Philadelphia with 40 points, six assists and two steals, while rookie No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe impressed in his debut, posting 34 points and seven rebounds on 13-of-26 shooting.
Boston, playing without Jayson Tatum after his Achilles injury suffered during the 2025 postseason, leaned on Derrick White and Jaylen Brown to keep the game close, with both finishing with 25 points apiece.
Despite the victory at the hand of Maxey and Edgecombe, much of the postgame conversation centered around Embiid’s quiet night, as fans expressed concern over his limited impact on both ends of the floor.
Despite Philadelphia leading by six at halftime, Boston stormed back in the third quarter to take an 86–75 advantage into the final frame.
Both teams traded blows down the stretch, and with the game on the line, Kelly Oubre Jr. buried a clutch three-pointer to put the 76ers ahead with 1:16 remaining.
Maxey calmly sank two free throws to extend the lead to four, but Payton Pritchard kept the Celtics alive with a quick three and a layup, trimming the deficit to 117–116 with 9.1 seconds left.
Pritchard’s luck ran out as he missed the potential game-winner, allowing the 76ers to escape with a hard-fought road victory.
With the win, the 76ers opened their season at 1–0 and will look to build on their momentum when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Celtics will look to bounce back Friday on the road against the New York Knicks.
