By: Kylan Watson
The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics renewed one of the best rivalries in all of sports for their first match-up of the 2023-24 NBA season. Both teams traded blows throughout this game and played like it was a playoff game. The Sixers were able to outexecute Boston and hit more shots late in the game as they beat them 106-103. Philly was able to pass the early season test and with this victory have laid claim to being one of the best teams in the association.
The Sixers started this game off slowly as they missed their shots early in this game and the Celtics took full advantage. Their addition of Kristaps Porzingis paid off in this game for them, he found the bottom of the net throughout the first-half. It did not matter if the shot was contested or wide open it found the basket. He scored 29-points and was the high scorer for Boston tonight and the Sixers length affected the rest of his teammates. As a team Boston only 39.6% of their shots tonight and that was because of the Sixers playing more aggressive on the defensive end and forcing them into well contested shots. They kept Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown largely in check in the contest and that proved to be a difference in this game. As the Sixers slowed Boston’s explosive offense down just enough for them to retake the lead in the second-half and ultimately hand Boston its second loss of the season.
Joel Embiid (27-points, grabbed 10-rebounds, had four-assists, and had four-blocks), Tyrese Maxey (25-points, grabbed nine-rebounds, and had five-assists), and Tobias Harris (17-points) combined for 69 of Philly’s 106-points and they needed every point from them. The three of them hit pivotal shots down the stretch to keep the Celtics at bay when they made a late-game 10-to-nothing scoring run to make this game tighter. It took a clutch Joel Embiid turn-around jumper and late rebound to keep the Sixers ahead in this game. The Sixers were able to pass this early season tests thanks to the scoring of Embiid, the continued development of Maxey, and the hot start from Harris. Harris in particular has been playing way more aggressively and it has made the Sixers one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. It is a contract year for him but Nurse’s offensive scheme seems to have unlocked the more aggressive side of Harris and an aggressive Tobias Harris is great news for Philly. The addition of that along with the added explosiveness of the growing Embiid and Maxey duo makes the Sixers one of the best teams in the NBA. If the league was not paying attention to Philly before they are now.
The Sixers will now prepare to face the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. They will need to stay attached to their defensive assignments to keep up with the young legs of the Pistons. Detroit may not be a threat yet but they are a growing team and if the Sixers over look them, they can make them pay for that. Additionally, they will need to continue to keep the ball moving on the offensive side to find high-percentage shots and really get their offense going like they did tonight. If they can implement these things, they should be able to get their seventh victory of the season and first for the NBA In-Season Tournament.
