Nov 11, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Justin Edwards (11) shoots in front of Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Philadelphia — This time a year ago, the Sixers didn't have adequate personnel to survive even when Joel Embiid was on the floor, let alone when he was sidelined in perpetuity.
Tuesday's matchup with the Boston Celtics, the third of four already this regular season, offered the first sigh of the new campaign: Embiid, who had originally been unlisted when the Sixers dropped Monday's injury report for Tuesday's game, was an afternoon scratch due to right knee soreness.
The locals naturally sounded the alarms. Hard to expect otherwise given what Philadelphia endured last season.
A victory against the arch-rival Celtics wasn't going to silence concerns. But it would provide some temporary breathing room.
When Philadelphia needed a boost most, Justin Edwards served as an unlikely knight in shining armor. Edwards has had a rather miserable start to his second NBA season. With Paul George still out, none of the Sixers' wings are feeling the discomfort of a tight leash. While the minutes are fewer and further between than they were when it became clear last season was lost, Nick Nurse has maintained an open mind about Edwards.
The Sixers did not capitalize on a terrible first quarter of shooting by the Celtics. They led by one with Tyrese Maxey resting to begin the second quarter. It was Edwards who provided some separation.
Rather than trying to prove all that he was capable of, Edwards allowed his teammates to simply his role in the lineup. He got his feet set for a pair of triples and converted the looks. He slashed to the rim and finished a layup through a foul.
Edwards' spurt provided the Sixers with some Maxey leverage. They went on a 15-7 run to open the second quarter without the star guard, expanding a one-point lead to nine midway through.
Even when Maxey was in the game, it was a relatively tame first half for the NBA's second leading scorer. No problem. Another unlikely knight packed his own offensive punch.
It has not been a kind start to the season for Jabari Walker. He's maintained his opportunities the same way Edwards has.
But this younger group, with a handful of lesser known players, can surprise you on any given night.
Walker still isn't converting on perimeter looks. He's cutting when he senses the opportunity. He still found a way to be a key cog in the first half, displaying some incredible playmaking chops off the dribble. He connected the floor, generating scores that didn't rely upon Maxey to do all the work.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, they had to play a third quarter. And, as has been the case all season, that was when their struggles really began.
Maxey did his best to salvage the quarter before the Sixers inevitably coughed up their lead. He got downhill repeatedly, embracing contact on the drive to get to the foul line. After an eight-point first half, he had a nine-point run in the third quarter.
Perhaps Nurse is more right than most want to admit. Maybe there is no great explanation to their third quarters beyond the ebbs and flows of the sport.
Jaylen Brown got to the nail with ease all quarter long, catching the Sixers in trail position on picks and isolations before pulling up suddenly for fouls on jumpers. He and Derrick White both punished the Sixers for being overly aggressive on shots in the midrange.
Philadelphia lost the third quarter by 16 points. They couldn't string together defensive possessions that kept Boston out of position to drive. If the Celtics weren't driving and scoring at the rim, they were driving and kicking. If they weren't driving and kicking, they were driving, kicking and relocating. A putrid first half of shooting normalized with the dribble penetration as the game ticked down to the final quarter.
The low-hanging fruit for the Sixers is the decisions on the margins. Andre Drumond, who has been mostly excellent this season, took a pair of corner threes as the offense stalled out. Those misses sent Boston out in transition. Quentin Grimes had a handful of turnovers on bad passes and out-of-control ball-handling. All of that — decisions of magnitude and sloppy mistakes, alike — adds up.
Maxey can't do everything. VJ Edgecombe's workload as a rookie is likely eating at his energy for offensive creation. The Sixers have to do a better job of making the opposition work on defense. Right now, they're living with wasteful decisions. On Tuesday, such decisions included the Drummond corner threes as the third quarter got away from them and Maxey settling for a pull-up threes in an isolation against Sam Hauser.
Of course, this game wasn't going to end without the hero being heard from one last time. Edwards knocked down three triples as part of a Sixers run in crunch time. They trailed by eight points with six minutes to play. Edwards' barrage in the span of 75 seconds gave Philadelphia a one-point lead.
After the game, Nurse joked that he'll take the bad third quarters if it means the Sixers' fourth quarters remain great.
It's not a plan that Philadelphia can depend upon over 82 games. But it's one that the Sixers will lean on because it reinforces their belief in themselves.
They'll keep absorbing the punches as long as they can go home with a victory when the night is over.
