The Boston Celtics came away with a convincing 114-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at a packed TD Garden on Sunday night, improving to 40-20 on the season in front of 19,156 fans. Center Neemias Queta was the story of the evening, putting together one of the most complete performances of his career while Boston’s second-quarter surge proved to be the decisive swing that Philadelphia never fully recovered from.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: 76ers Take Early Edge, 28-26
Philadelphia came out with purpose from the opening tip, building a modest lead by the end of the first quarter, 28-26. Tyrese Maxey was active early, pushing the pace and creating opportunities for himself and his teammates. Boston stayed within reach but struggled to establish consistent rhythm on the offensive end, trailing by two heading into the second period.
Second Quarter: Celtics Take Control, 36-22
The second quarter told a dramatically different story. Boston outscored Philadelphia by 14 points in the period, posting a dominant 36-22 frame that flipped the momentum entirely. The Celtics’ defense tightened considerably, and their offense found its footing — particularly in transition and from the paint. At the half, Boston led 62-50 and appeared to have wrested control of the game.
Third Quarter: 76ers Rally, 33-27
Philadelphia refused to go quietly. The 76ers responded with their best quarter of the night, outscoring Boston 33-27 in the third to cut into the deficit. Maxey remained a consistent offensive force, and the visitors showed enough resilience to make things interesting heading into the final frame. Boston led 89-83 entering the fourth — a six-point advantage that felt far from secure.
Fourth Quarter: Celtics Seal It, 25-15
Any hopes of a Philadelphia comeback dissolved in the fourth quarter. Boston took control once more, outscoring the 76ers 25-15 over the final 12 minutes to close out a 114-98 win. The Celtics’ defensive rotations were sharp, and their composure down the stretch allowed them to manage the game without difficulty, sealing the result well before the final buzzer.
Key Performers
Neemias Queta, C — Boston Celtics
Queta was the clear standout performer of the night, delivering 27 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a performance that earned him a game-high efficiency rating. The Portuguese center was a consistent presence on both ends of the floor, providing Boston with a dominant interior anchor throughout. His 17-rebound effort was particularly impactful — Boston finished with 59 total rebounds compared to Philadelphia’s 37, a 22-board differential that played a central role in the outcome.
Jaylen Brown, G — Boston Celtics
While his scoring line was secondary to Queta’s on this occasion, Jaylen Brown led all players with 8 assists, orchestrating Boston’s offense with efficiency and poise. His ability to create for others complemented the Celtics’ interior dominance and helped generate the clean looks Boston converted throughout the second and fourth quarters.
Tyrese Maxey, G — Philadelphia 76ers
Maxey was Philadelphia’s most dependable contributor, leading all scorers in the game with 33 points to go along with 6 assists. He worked tirelessly to keep the 76ers competitive, and his third-quarter run helped breathe life into what could have been a more lopsided result. Despite his individual output, Maxey received limited support from his teammates in the fourth quarter as Boston’s defense took over.
Andre Drummond, C — Philadelphia 76ers
Drummond led Philadelphia on the glass with 12 rebounds, though Boston’s overall rebounding advantage — 59 to 37 — underscored how thoroughly Queta and the Celtics outperformed the 76ers in that department across all four quarters.
Game Analysis
This game ultimately came down to Boston’s rebounding dominance and the Celtics’ ability to respond decisively after falling behind. The 22-rebound differential was extraordinary by any measure, and it gave Boston second-chance opportunities that Philadelphia simply could not replicate. The Celtics shot 44.0% from the field and converted 85.7% of their free throw attempts, providing a solid enough offensive floor even on a night when their three-point shooting (32.7% on 49 attempts) was inconsistent.
Philadelphia’s 38.7% three-point shooting on 31 attempts was actually more efficient from distance, but the 76ers’ overall field goal percentage of 39.8% and their struggles at the free throw line (72.7%) left them without enough scoring to keep pace. Maxey’s 33-point performance was genuinely impressive, yet the rest of the roster was unable to provide sufficient complementary production to mount a sustained fourth-quarter challenge.
Boston’s second-quarter response deserves particular credit. Trailing by two after one period, the Celtics outscored Philadelphia by 14 in the second — a decisive swing that set the tone. The ability to absorb Philadelphia’s third-quarter run and then respond with a controlled fourth quarter speaks to a team with genuine maturity and depth.
Standings and Series Context
With the win, the Boston Celtics improve to 40-20 on the season — a 20-9 home record that continues to make TD Garden one of the more challenging venues in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia drops to 33-27, still firmly in playoff contention but facing questions about their ability to close out games on the road, where they now stand at 17-12. As both teams navigate the final stretch of the regular season, this result reinforces Boston’s position as one of the East’s most formidable contenders, while Philadelphia will need to find more consistent fourth-quarter production to strengthen their postseason standing.
