Maxey scores 40 points as 76ers rally to beat Celtics 117-116

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)
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)
Boston Celtics center Luka Garza has his bloodied face examined during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics center Luka Garza has his bloodied face examined during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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)
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 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)
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

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 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.

Up next

76ers: Host Charlotte on Saturday.

Celtics: At New York on Friday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

  • The Mike Gallagher Show
    8:00PM - 11:00PM
     
    Mike Gallagher is one of the most listened-to radio talk show hosts in America.   >>
     
  • The Eric Metaxas Show
    11:00PM - 1:00AM
     
    Eric Metaxas is the host of Salem’s newest daily talk program, a true   >>
     
  • The Larry Elder Show
    1:00AM - 3:00AM
    The Larry Elder Show
    (844) 900-7243
     
    Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from   >>
     
  • The Chris Stigall Show
    3:00AM - 5:00AM
     
    Equal parts hilarity and desk-pounding monologues with healthy doses of skepticism and sarcasm.
     
  • The Inland Empire Answer
     
    Join Host Jennifer Horn for News and commentary that hits the bullseye for   >>
     

See the Full Program Guide