The Boston Celtics just pulled off an insane 125-120 overtime win against the Philadelphia 76ers, and honestly, if you missed it, you missed one of the most surprising preseason thrillers in recent memory. This wasn’t just any preseason game; Boston rolled out what felt like their G League squad against the full starting lineup of a “Super Team” 76ers, complete with guys you know have NBA Championship rings and MVP trophies. It was wild.
No Fear, Just Fight From Boston’s Underdogs
What made this game absolutely bonkers was who the Celtics put on the court. We’re talking about a lineup where most guys are literally fighting for a spot on a two-way deal or even just in the G League. Their starting five combined for a grand total of six career NBA points, and get this, all of those came from Hayden Gray, who played just one game last season with the Utah Jazz. On the flip side, the 76ers brought out their full arsenal, and their starters boasted a ridiculous 89,240 combined career NBA points. Think about that for a second. LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, all these massive names, and Boston’s scrappy crew just absolutely refused to back down. They played with zero fear, looked aggressive from the jump, and frankly, didn’t seem to care who was in front of them. Sure, there were some sloppy moments, you’d expect that with a team like this, but the hustle stats? That’s where the real story is. Boston out-rebounded Philly a whopping 63-46, got off 16 more shot attempts, and forced 18 turnovers. There were stretches in that game where Boston looked like the better team, even with Philly’s big guns out there. That, my friends, is a serious testament to the Celtics’ culture.
Sam Cassell’s Head Coaching Debut Was Clutch
This crazy win also marked a major moment for Sam Cassell, who made his Celtics head coaching debut. Cassell took the reins from Joe Mazzulla for this game, and you gotta say, he nailed it. This guy’s no stranger to the NBA sidelines; he was an assistant for the 76ers from 2020 to 2023 before joining Boston’s staff in June 2023. He’s been a hot name in head coaching circles for a while, even tying for 5th in the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey as the league’s best assistant coach. And he showed exactly why in this game. Cassell was actively engaged, coaching up guys who haven’t seen much playing time this preseason. He was the one who helped lead Boston back from a 14-point hole in the third quarter. Postgame, when asked about the starting lineup, Cassell put it simply: “We wanted to reward these guys…they pushed our guys in training camp the last three or four weeks and Joe was like let’s reward them…It’s a big thing to be a starter for the Boston Celtics.” Talk about recognizing effort and building belief!
This overtime victory, even though it “doesn’t count,” sent a loud message about the Celtics’ depth and competitive fire. With a coaching staff that knows how to get the most out of every single player, and a roster showing this much grit, it’s gonna be fascinating to watch how this team develops as the season gets rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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