The Boston Celtics’ new season got off to a disappointing start on Wednesday night with a 117-116 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
The new-look Celtics played well for the most part without Jayson Tatum (Achilles), showing the type of spirit and resolve that Joe Mazzulla is looking for. They faltered late, however, allowing the 76ers to come back and steal the game in the final minute.
After entering halftime down 57-51, Boston responded with a huge third quarter, outscoring Philadelphia 35-18. The Celtics led by as many as 13 points early in the fourth quarter and appeared to be in control.
Boston’s defense promptly collapsed, surrendering a whopping 42 points over the final 11 minutes despite not having Paul George and Joel Embiid being on a minutes restriction. The Celtics lost the lead for good with just over a minute left and never recovered, losing by one point when Payton Pritchard missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Boston had no answer for the 76ers’ backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and rookie V.J. Edgecombe, who combined for 74 points and nine assists.
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After the game, Jaylen Brown lamented the team’s defensive lapses during crunch time.
“I don’t know if we were too focused on the offensive end, but we can’t just let guys come in here and just do what they want,” Brown said during his postgame press conference.
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Brown and Derrick White led the Celtics with 25 points apiece, while Pritchard scored 16 and Neemias Queta had 17. Anfernee Simons chipped in 13 points off the bench in his Boston debut.
The Celtics head to New York on Friday for a playoff rematch with the Knicks, who downed the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-111 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Boston will need a better defensive effort if it wants to upset the more talented Knicks on the road.
