The Philadelphia 76ers went down in an overtime thriller, losing 125-120 to the Boston Celtics on Friday night. It was their 2026-27 preseason finale, and while the outcome stings, the real story was seeing four of their regular starters out there getting reps. Nick Nurse even rested VJ Edgecombe for this one, slotting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope into the initial five. Honestly, this squad just *looks* loaded with talent, but it’s clear they’ve got some work to do on that on-court chemistry, especially early in games.
Early Game Jitters vs. Second Half Grind
Things definitely started a bit disjointed in that first frame, which is exactly where that chemistry question mark pops up. It was sloppy, kinda messy. But you know what? Credit where credit’s due, they really tightened things up throughout the second half and kept pushing. That’s the sign of a team that can really figure things out once they get more consistent play together. The main starters weren’t just playing for show either; they played through the third quarter before finally subbing out for the night. The good news is, their individual performances were strong enough to earn them Bell Ringer nods, with Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe (who was out, but still ranked), and LeBron James all making the cut.
Jaylen Brown Is Just Built Different
Seriously, Jaylen Brown just never looks out of sorts. Even when the Sixers’ offense was a hot mess early in the game, Brown was straight-up producing. He made a habit of just driving right to the rim, getting there early and often. You hardly ever saw him settling for some contested midrange jumper. In the first half alone, he dropped 14 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including a triple, plus he grabbed six boards and dished out three assists. And on defense? Dude was everywhere! He already had two blocks and a steal by the break. His isolation game, his passing, his aggression on the glass, his defensive prowess , it’s all there. Sixers fans know what Brown brings when he’s feeling it, and it’s gotta feel good seeing him do all that in a Philly jersey now. He finished the night with 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and two blocks, all in 31 minutes. LeBron James chipped in 8 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. Even when LeBron James only seems to be doing a little, he sti…
With the preseason wrapped, it’s all about getting ready for opening night. The talent is undeniable, but getting that chemistry locked in is gonna be huge. Watching this team find their rhythm and truly become the powerhouse they can be? That’s what we’re all looking forward to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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