By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 03:26 BST, 23 October 2025 | Updated: 03:26 BST, 23 October 2025
BOSTON (AP) - Tyrese Maxey scored 40 points and VJ Edgecombe added 34 in his NBA debut to help the Philadelphia 76ers rally to beat the Boston Celtics 117-116 in their season opener Wednesday night.
Edgecombe scored the most points in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 on Oct. 24, 1959.
Philadelphia led by four with 22 seconds left, but it was down to one when Edgecombe missed a pair of foul shots with 9.1 seconds to play. Payton Pritchard had two shots for the winner and missed both.
Joel Embiid played for the first time since February, scoring four points on 1-of-9 shooting. The 2023 NBA MVP and a two-time league scoring champion had six rebounds in 20 minutes as he returns after a 2024-25 season when he was limited to 19 games because of a sprained left foot, a sinus fracture and arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Jaylen Brown [returned from a hamstring injury](https://apnews.com/article/boston-celtics-jaylen-brown-injury-a11127633d6bb8a5ba8e94c95d68cf47) in the preseason finale to score 25 points. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is expected to carry a heavier load this year with fellow All-Star Jayson Tatum, who watched the game from the bench in street clothes, recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Derrick White scored 13 points of his 25 points in the third quarter, when the Celtics scored 16 straight points to turn a five-point deficit into an 11-point lead. The Celtics led 94-84 with nine minutes remaining before the Sixers scored eight straight points to make it close.
Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (4) drives to the basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
76ers: Host Charlotte on Saturday.
Celtics: At New York on Friday night.
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AP NBA: [https://apnews.com/NBA](https://apnews.com/NBA)
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, center, loses control of the ball while trapped by Boston Celtics forward Xavier Tillman, left, guard Anfernee Simons, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, center, talks with guard Derrick White, left, during a time out in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers forward Adem Bona (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics forward Josh Minott (8) slams a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)