The Philadelphia 76ers dominated the glass, and would pull away in the second half to take down the cold shooting Boston Celtics 107-93 in a season opening game at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Boston (0-1) led by as many as eight points and held a five point advantage after the opening 12 minutes. Philadelphia outscored the visitors 29-23 in the second quarter running off the last six points of the quarter and held a slim 49-48 lead at halftime, their first lead since 5-4. The 76ers scored the first seven points of the third quarter to push it to an eight point lead. Later in the quarter Gordon Hayward cut it down to three with a floating jumper in the lane with a little less than three minutes left, but a 9-3 run by the hosts to close out the quarter pushed back to a nine point lead. Four points is as close as the Celtics would get in the final quarter on another Hayward shot, while Philadelphia (1-0) extended it to the biggest lead of the night at 17 late to take the season opener for both teams.
Foul trouble on several starters early including four on Jaylen Brown just halfway through the second quarter limited Boston especially in the second half. Philadelphia also dominated the defensive glass, outrebounding the Celtics 50-31 (62-41 in all). Hayward led the way for Boston with 25 points and five rebounds. Jayson Tatum had a double double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Enes Kanter and Kemba Walker both added 12, but the Celtics shot just 36% from the floor. Boston also only shot 20-34 (58%) from the foul line. All five 76ers starters finished in double figures led by Ben Simmons who had 24 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Josh Richardson had 17 points. Al Horford had 16 points with his new team. Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid both had double doubles in the win, with Harris going for 15 points and 15 rebounds and Embiid also putting in 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Boston will host the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors in the home opener on Friday night at the TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
