Celtics Defeat Undefeated Sixers in NBA Cup Third Straight Win

The Philadelphia 76ers suffered their first loss of the 2025-2026 NBA season against the Boston Celtics in an NBA Cup group stage game, ending their unbeaten start. The Sixers, led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, faced a strong Celtics defense and offensive rebounding, which contributed to the narrow 109-108 defeat. Jaylen Brown spearheaded the Celtics' effort with 32 points, while Boston's defense forced 18 turnovers, playing a key role in their victory despite missing star Jayson Tatum. The game was a rematch following the Sixers' season-opening win, where rookie VJ Edgecombe made a historic debut but was closely monitored by the Celtics this time. The Sixers showed resilience, narrowing a large deficit to just one point in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short due to a critical defensive stop by Boston. Both teams continue to demonstrate strong performances in the early NBA Cup group play, with Boston seeking redemption and Philadelphia aiming to maintain momentum after a rough previous season.