On March 1, 2026, at 10:36 PM Eastern Time
BOSTON — On Sunday night, the Philadelphia 76ers took to the TD Garden floor aiming for a victory against their long-time rivals, the Boston Celtics. However, they faced the challenge of competing without Joel Embiid, who is sidelined for the first of three confirmed games due to a right oblique strain. His absence made it a tough task for the team to secure a win in Boston.
Game Overview
The 76ers initially surged to a 10-point advantage in the opening half, but the Celtics quickly found their offensive groove, establishing a 12-point lead by halftime. Boston’s advantage swelled to as much as 16 points as they triumphed over the Sixers with a score of 114-98. The Celtics dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Sixers 58-37 throughout the game.
In the matchup against the Celtics, Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points and provided six assists for Philadelphia, while VJ Edgecombe contributed 23 points and secured five rebounds. The Sixers also got 10 points and 12 rebounds from Andre Drummond, along with 14 points and eight rebounds from Dominick Barlow, and Adem Bona chipped in with five points and four rebounds.
Below are the evaluations of the players after the defeat against the Celtics:
Embiid’s Impact
Tyrese Maxey: C-plus
The All-Star guard was undeniably assertive in this matchup. He drove towards the basket to establish a presence for Philadelphia on that side of the court and made sound choices. He seized the chances to shoot when they arose and executed the right plays with his passing as well. However, Maxey faced challenges with his shooting performance. He struggled to establish a rhythm throughout the game, missing several shots he typically converts. In the first half, he managed only 4-for-18 as Philadelphia faced difficulties early on. After halftime, he found some success, but it still fell short of what the Sixers require from him with Embiid out. There were positive moments in the second half, but Philadelphia will need more moving forward.
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Celtics’ Dominance
VJ Edgecombe: B grade
The Celtics focused heavily on the rookie during the game. Previously, when Edgecombe played at the TD Garden, he scored 34 points in his NBA debut, leading Philadelphia to a surprising victory on opening night. Boston appeared intent on preventing a repeat performance, aggressively defending him every time he received the ball. Nevertheless, Edgecombe managed to hit some challenging shots in the third quarter, helping Philadelphia stay competitive after the Celtics had established a lead. Credit must be given to the rookie for his ongoing development in the league and the progress he is making as a player. The three-pointers he made in this matchup were noteworthy, especially considering the defensive strategies the Celtics employed against him.
Kelly Oubre Jr.: D-grade
Key Player Performances
Oubre faced a challenging night as he failed to convert several easy shots in the paint. With Maxey struggling in this game, the 76ers were in dire need of an additional scorer from the perimeter, but Oubre was unable to establish his rhythm.
Dominick Barlow: Grade B
The large player made significant contributions for Philadelphia in various aspects. He executed a challenging finish through contact after grabbing an offensive rebound, defended fiercely against Celtics star Jaylen Brown, and successfully made a jumper. When the Sixers receive this level of performance from Barlow, it simplifies things for everyone on the court. He fought hard on both sides of the court and delivered a commendable effort for Philadelphia in this matchup.
Andre Drummond: D-grade
Drummond faced a challenging night on defense as he found it difficult to contend with Celtics center Neemias Queta repeatedly. Queta recorded a double-double in the first half and secured seven offensive rebounds during that period, giving Boston the upper hand. While Drummond managed to score near the rim and hit a few corner three-pointers, his defensive struggles were a significant concern in this matchup.
Quentin Grimes: F
Grimes faced a challenging start in the game against the Celtics. He missed several early opportunities despite being open within the offense, failing to capitalize on them. Although he managed to dish out a few assists, the 76ers were in dire need of his scoring. He did manage to sink a three-pointer in the second half, but his overall impact was limited, and there were additional plays he could have executed to make a difference in this matchup.
Adem Bona: Grade B
The towering player joined the competition and caused chaos on both sides of the court. He excelled on the boards, making crucial plays that ignited the 76ers. He found considerable success against Celtics’ big men Queta and Nikola Vucevic early in the game. If there’s any point of critique regarding Bona in this matchup, it would be his tendency to foul, as usual, but overall, he had a commendable performance.
Trendon Watford: Center
The 76ers got off to a strong start with some early scoring from Watford. He aggressively drove to the basket, creating chances near the rim. However, aside from that initial flurry, Watford struggled to contribute, and Philadelphia’s bench unit overall failed to generate much offense.
Cam Payne: Not completed
Payne contributed to the offense during his brief appearance, recording an assist in his first 4 minutes on the court. Although he struggled with his shooting in this game, the Sixers value his ability to handle the ball. However, he did not see any further playing time after that initial stint.
