Boston Celtics begin their NBA campaign with a win over the Philadelphia 76ers as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both scored 35 points each in the victory.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both scored 35 points each in Boston Celtics victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening game of the NBA regular season.
Malcolm Brogdon also score 16 points and Grant Williams finished with 15 as the defending Eastern Conference champions gave interim coach Joe Mazzulla a victory in his debut.
“It was just unique and special,” Brown said. “It feels a little bit better knowing who we were playing and who we were playing for.”
Mazzulla is in charge of leading the team following the suspension of Ime Udoka after an investigation was raised by a law firm that found he committed multiple violations of team policies.
Meanwhile, James Harden scored 35 points – his most since joining the 76ers last season – including 12 of 12 from the free throw line. He also had five 3-pointers.
Joel Embiid added 26 points and 15 rebounds. Tyrese Maxey finished with 21 points.
Mazzulla has vowed to keep the focus on building upon the culture Udoka established on the court as a rookie head coach last season.
He insists that it will be done primarily on the defensive end of the floor, but the offense was the story for the Celtics on Tuesday with 56% shooting from the field.
With big man Robert Williams sidelined due to offseason surgery on his knee, the Celtics stuck with the same starting lineup they employed during the preseason, playing defensive stalwart Derrick White alongside Marcus Smart, Tatum, Brown and Al Horford.
