The 76ers bench erupts in celebration after Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (No. 11) came up short on a last-gasp, double-clutch baseline jumper that slid off the rim in a 117-116 loss in the season opener Tuesday night at TD Garden.
The 76ers bench erupts in celebration after Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (No. 11) came up short on a last-gasp, double-clutch baseline jumper that slid off the rim in a 117-116 loss in the season opener Tuesday night at TD Garden.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
A year ago, the Celtics opened their season with a celebration. Banner 18 was raised to the TD Garden rafters, sparkling championship rings were handed out, and Boston started its quest to do it all again.
That goal was not achieved, of course. And on Wednesday night, the Celtics opened a new season against the 76ers in which expectations were as low as they have been in a decade.
Although they showed some signs of promise, their shortcomings were probably more glaring, as they coughed up a 13-point fourth-quarter lead and lost, 117-116, when Payton Pritchard’s potential game-winner from the left baseline slid off the rim.
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown had 25 points apiece to lead the Celtics, who made just 11 of 43 3-pointers as a team. Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey erupted for a game-high 40 points, and rookie VJ Edgecombe had a sparkling debut with 34 points. His two missed free throws in the final seconds almost proved costly, but the 76ers defense took care of the rest.
The Celtics seized control with a 21-4 third-quarter run and led, 88-75, with 11 minutes left in the fourth. But three consecutive Maxey 3-pointers brought the 76ers to life, and a driving layup by Edgecombe with 7:47 left capped a 17-6 run that pulled them within 94-92.
The Celtics extended their lead by finding Queta rolling to the rim time and again. He had four dunks and layups over one stretch, the last an alley-oop that made it 109-100 with 3:46 left.
But the 76ers finally received contributions from players other than Edgecombe and Maxey, and crafted the game-defining 13-2 run that was highlighted by Kelly Oubre’s 3-pointer from the right corner with 1:16 left that gave the 76ers a 112-111 lead.
With Philadelphia ahead, 113-111, Brown missed a driving attempt before Xavier Tillman’s putback fell short. The ensuing scrum led to a jump ball with 24 seconds left, and it also took away Boston’s two-for-one chance.
Edgecombe won the tip, and two Maxey free throws with 22 seconds left made it 115-111. After a timeout, Brown missed a 3-pointer but Tillman grabbed the rebound and found Pritchard, whose 3-pointer pulled Boston within one.
76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (No. 0), dribbling around Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, led Philadelphia with 40 points in a 117-116 victory at TD Garden.
76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (No. 0), dribbling around Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, led Philadelphia with 40 points in a 117-116 victory at TD Garden.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Edgecombe’s two free throws were followed by a quick Pritchard layup, with the Celtics counting on an eventual 76ers miss from the foul line. Then they got two, when Edgecombe was off on both attempts with 8.5 seconds to play.
Pritchard was stopped inside and the ball went out of bounds with 1.6 seconds left. Boston had no timeouts left. Pritchard caught the ball in the left corner, but his contested double-clutch attempt was long.
76ers center Joel Embiid played his first game since Feb. 22. Coach Nick Nurse said before the game that his playing time would be limited as he works his way back from last season’s knee injury, and in he did not appear to be moving well at the start.
He was stripped twice and mostly settled for contested jump-shots during his four-point first half. The good news for the 76ers was that they did not really need him yet.
Instead, they turned to their high-powered backcourt of Maxey and Edgecombe, who was drafted third overall last June. Edgecombe dazzled at the start, soaring for a loud one-handed dunk and following with back-to-back 3-pointers during one stretch.
The Celtics deployed their expected starting lineup consisting of returning players Brown, White, Queta, Pritchard and Sam Hauser. Ten minutes into the game coach Joe Mazzulla had already used 10 players, partly because he wants to play fast and chaotically, and probably partly because unlike previous seasons, the roster hierarchy is not yet clear.
He might also have been just looking for someone who could hit a 3-point shot. The Celtics were 5 for 23 from beyond the arc in the first half, with guards Pritchard, White and Anfernee Simons combining to hit just 2 of 15. During a timeout following one difficult stretch, White threw a towel to the ground in apparent frustration before Jayson Tatum, who is out indefinitely with an Achilles injury, appeared to offer him some words of encouragement.
Maxey, meanwhile, did not miss. The 76ers star followed up Edgecombe’s 14-point first quarter by pouring in 19 in the second. He was 3 for 3 from beyond the arc and gave the Celtics even bigger fits when they looked for someone who could stay in front of him on his daring drives to the rim.
After the Celtics used an 11-2 surge to take a 39-34 lead, the 76ers closed the half with a 23-12 burst that was highlighted by a pair of Maxey 3-pointers.
The 76ers led, 57-51, at the break.
But the Celtics might have been encouraged, anyway, because they were well within striking distance despite missing most of their 3-pointers and attempting just five foul shots. Both of those categories turned in their favor in the third, with White leading the way.
Boston missed its first three 3-pointers of the second half before drilling three in a row. White scored eight consecutive Celtics points during their 21-4 run that helped Boston seize control.
He hit a 3-pointer and five free throws during the flurry, and the Celtics’ aggression helped them get into the penalty early. They attempted 17 foul shots in the quarter and took an 86-75 lead to the fourth.
Maxey, one of the 76ers’ two sources of offense on this night, inexplicably picked up his fifth foul just 47 seconds into the quarter when he bumped Brown in the left corner. Brown smiled, aware of the significance of the slip-up.
But Maxey, who had a quiet third quarter, stayed in the game and promptly drilled three 3-pointers in 40 seconds to pull Philadelphia within 90-84 and give it hope.
. . .
Luka Garza left the game after a second-quarter collision and was later ruled out because of the concussion protocol.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.