The Boston Celtics routed the Philadelphia 76ers 144-106 in NBA preseason action at TD Garden on Sunday, October 11 (Philippine time). Payton Pritchard led Boston with 25 points, and the Celtics' 144 points set a franchise record for a preseason game.
The win lifted Boston to 2-0 in the preseason, while Philadelphia fell to 1-2. The Celtics played nearly their entire roster after resting several starters in their preseason opener.
How Boston pulled away
The first quarter was close, but Boston took control in the second. Four minutes into the quarter, a Hugo Gonzalez three-pointer put the Celtics up 38-28. Boston won the period 39-22 to build a 21-point halftime lead, then kept extending it after the break.
Boston shot about 47% from three-point range and dominated the glass, outrebounding Philadelphia 70-41. With the game decided, the Celtics opened the fourth quarter with Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Luka Garza on the floor.
Who led the Celtics?
Pritchard and Jayson Tatum carried the scoring for Boston. Tatum was the only Celtic to play the entire first quarter and finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 26 minutes.
| Player | Team | Key stats |
|---|---|---|
| Payton Pritchard | Celtics | 25 PTS |
| Jayson Tatum | Celtics | 23 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST in 26 MIN |
| Hugo Gonzalez | Celtics | 17 PTS, 4-of-4 3PT |
| Derrick White | Celtics | 15 PTS |
| Sam Hauser | Celtics | 11 PTS |
| Paul George | Celtics | 5 STL |
| VJ Edgecombe | 76ers | 19 PTS, 4 AST, 4 STL |
Paul George made his impact on defense in his first game with Boston, finishing with five steals. Gonzalez gave the Celtics a lift off the bench, hitting all four of his three-point attempts.
A shorthanded night for the 76ers
Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That meant Brown, a former Celtics star, didn't face his old team at TD Garden.
Edgecombe was the bright spot for the visitors, leading the team in scoring. Tyrese Maxey started alongside him but struggled from the field.
What the result means
Preseason results carry little weight, and Philadelphia was missing four key players. For Boston, the bigger signs were depth and fit: the bench produced steady scoring, and the new-look starting group with George and Mitchell Robinson looked comfortable together.
The two teams meet again before the regular season, this time in Philadelphia. That game should offer a clearer picture if more of the 76ers' regulars return.
What's next for the Celtics and 76ers
Boston has since beaten the Charlotte Hornets 114-93 at home. All times below are in Philippine time.
| Date (PHT) | Time (PHT) | Game | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, October 17 | 7:00 AM | Celtics at 76ers (preseason) | Xfinity Mobile Arena |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 3:00 AM | Celtics at Pistons (regular-season opener) | Little Caesars Arena |
| Wednesday, October 21 | 7:00 AM | 76ers at Knicks (regular-season opener) | Madison Square Garden |
For matchup breakdowns before opening night, follow our game previews, and find more preseason results in our game recaps.
