Sixers Blow a Halftime Lead, Lose Preseason Finale to…

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Friday, October 16

Philadelphia led 60-58 at the half, then lost its preseason finale to the Celtics 120-125 as Boston's reserves pulled away late. The Sixers close exhibition play 1-3, 0-2 against Boston, with the opener at the Knicks four days away.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

How did a two-point halftime lead become a five-point loss?

Philadelphia led 60-58 at the break of a half with seven lead changes and six ties, each side's biggest cushion topping out at eight points. The margin held into the final possessions, where this one was actually decided, and Boston came out on top, 120-125, in a game both benches treated like it mattered.

Which bench actually decided this one?

Boston's reserves did the damage: Hugo Gonzalez scored 15 points in 13 minutes, Luka Garza added 12 in 13, and Jordan Walsh chipped in 7 in 13, each finishing plus-10. Philadelphia's bench managed four points total. The starters put up 50 between them, and it still wasn't enough.

Which Sixer actually earned a grade bump tonight?

Jaylen Brown was the best 76er on the floor: 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, six boards, three assists, plus-8. Tyrese Maxey was nearly as clean — 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting, five made free throws, four assists. Joel Embiid's 16 points hid a rougher night: 1-of-5 from three, three turnovers, minus-2 in just 17 minutes.

Who was actually on the floor when it mattered?

Jabari Walker, Embiid, LeBron James, Rayan Rupert and Maxey closed the final five minutes. By the actual buzzer, Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had swapped in for Walker and James alongside Embiid, Rupert and Maxey. Caldwell-Pope's plus-16 in 13 minutes led every player on both rosters.

What does this change with the opener four days away?

Not the record — Philadelphia closes the preseason 1-3 and still opens the regular season 0-0 on Oct. 20 at the Knicks. The roster did shrink hours before tipoff: Saint Thomas and Duke Miles were both cut, leaving payroll at $213.2 million, above the first apron.

The verdictPhiladelphia finishes the preseason 0-2 against Boston and 1-3 overall, outscored on the bench in the same way twice in six days. None of it touches the record, but the group that let a two-point lead slip away needs the Knicks game on Oct. 20 to look different.

Did this loss count toward the Sixers' record?

No. It was a preseason exhibition, so the result doesn't affect the regular-season record, which stays 0-0 until Oct. 20 at the Knicks.

Who led the Sixers in scoring?

Joel Embiid with 16 points, followed by Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown with 14 each.

By the 76ers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.