Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics

76ers' Fast Start, Clutch Close Fend Off Celtics

Philadelphia raced out to a 32-19 first-quarter lead, capped by an early 9-0 run, and led by as many as 18 before holding on 109-100. With the score tied 97-96 in the final minutes, the 76ers closed the game on a 12-4 run, punctuated by an 8-0 stretch that pushed a one-point edge to nine. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, while Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Philadelphia also shot far better from three than Boston (39% to 27%), with VJ Edgecombe hitting 5 of 11 from deep.

Final score: Philadelphia 76ers 109, Boston Celtics 100. Primary win factor: Clutch Execution.