Sixers vs. Celtics: Joel Embiid had better days, Tobias Harris toughs it out, Jaden Springer shows he deserves minutes
This marked the sixth time that the reigning MVP has been a minus-25 in his career. Three of the six times have come against the Celtics.
Joel Embiid and Al Horford jockey for rebounding position during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris has a knack for playing through injuries. And Jaden Springer can be a dependable role player.
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Those three things that stood out in the Sixers’ 117-107 loss to the Boston Celtics Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Here are the takeaways:
Embiid’s off night
Folks will look at Embiid’s statline and notice he flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven. They’ll also say that the reigning MVP made 8 of 16 shots. But he wasn’t his dominant self.
The Celtics (9-2) outscored the Sixers (8-3) by 25 points while he was on the floor. Embiid also committed a fourth-quarter turnover that led to a Celtics game-clinching 16-6 run. This marked the sixth time that he has been a minus-25 in his career. Three of the six times have come against the Celtics.
“The last few games I’ve been bad, but that doesn’t represent us,” said Embiid, who is averaging an NBA-best 31.9 points per game. “We’re better than that. I know I’m better than that.
“Not everyone is perfect. You can’t have great games all the time. So just learn from it and get better.”
Harris’ gritty performance
By now, folks should know that Harris will play through an assortment of injuries and ailments. And this game was a prime example.
The power forward was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game with neck pain after Bruce Brown came crashing down on him in Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers. But he played and finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
After the game, Harris walked gingerly in the locker room. He moved like someone that had just been in a train wreck.
“This was an important one, trying to get the W on,” Harris said. “It didn’t go our way, so it’s a tough one. But, I just tried to give whatever I got out there. I’m definitely not 100% or close to it. … It literally feels like whiplash.”
Joel Embiid (front) of the Sixers and Al Horford of the Celtics jockey for rebounding position during the first half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jrue Holiday (top right) of the Celtics receives a hard foul between Joel Embiid (left) and De'Anthony Melton during the second half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
TyreseMaxey (right) of the Sixers tries to steal the ball from Jayson Tatum of the Celtics during the first half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid (left) of the Sixers Jayson Tatum of the Celtics to losethe ball during the third quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton takes a hard fall after trying to get an offensive rebound during the first quarter Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Philadelphia.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum (left) of the Celtics scores in front of Joel Embiid of the SIxers during the 4th quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris in action against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Philadelphia.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum (center) of the Celtics scores against Paul Reed of the SIxers during the second half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jaden Springer of the Sixers dunks after coming up with a steal against the Celtics during the second half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jaden Springer of the Sixers dunks after coming up with a steal against the Celtics during the second half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum (center) of the Celtics scores against the SIxers during the second half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid (center) of the Sixers fould Derrick White (left) of the Celtics to prevent a layup during the third quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023. De'Anthony Melton's legs are right.Read moreCharles Fox
Tyrese Maxey (left) of the Sixers goes up for a shot against Luke Kornet of the Celtics during the first half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Coach Nick Nurse (right) of the Sixers argues with official Ed Malloy during the game with the Celtics in the first half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jaden Springer (right) of the Sixers runs into Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee as he chased after a loose ball. during their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Head coach Joe Mazzullais left.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
De'Anthony Melton (right) of the Sixers runs into Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla as he celebrates making a 3-pointer during the 2nd half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
De'Anthony Melton of the Sixers celebrates making a 3-pointer against the Celtics during the 2nd half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Derrick White (center) of the Celtics is sandwiched between TyreseMaxey (back) and Jaden Springer (right) during the first half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Paul Reed (center) of the Sixers scroes between Derrick White (left) and Payton Pritchard of the Celtics during the first half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Derrick White (center) of the Celtics holds his follow through after hitting a shot over Tobias Harris of the Sixers in the 4th quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum (left) of the Celtics tips in a basket against Robert Covington of the Sixers late in their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum (bottom) of the Celtics celebrates after tipping in a basket late in the 4th quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023. The Sixers players L-R: De'Anthony Melton, Joel Embiid, and Robert Covington.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Al Horford blows a kiss towards a vocal group of Sixer fans after Horford's basket gave the Celticsan 8-point lead in the 4th quarter of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum of the Celtics shoots over De'Anthony Melton during the second half of their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Derrick White (left) and Jayson Tatum of the Celtics celebrate late in their victory over the SIxers at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers crouches on the court in the final moments of their loss to the Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid (right) of the Sixers hugs Jayson Tatum of the Celtics after their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey (left) of the Sixers hugs Jayson Tatum of the Celtics after their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Jayson Tatum of the Celtics sits on the scorer's table as he does and interview after their victory over the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 15, 2023.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Springer was ballin
Nick Nurse might want to play Springer more often.
Heading into Wednesday night, the third-year guard didn’t get any minutes in three of the last four games.
You wouldn’t have known that by the way he produced against the Celtics. He moved around with the ease of a regular-rotation player, scoring nine points on 4-for-5 shooting. He also had two steals and finished with a game-best plus-20.
“It was really coming in and trying to make an impact,” he said of his mindset, “like staying aggressive. I know my defense is going to be there. But I was trying to show a little more on offense just showing I can help on both.
“That’s probably it, playing whatever role I need to be out there. So that’s my mindset.”
As the Sixers beat reporter, I provide daily coverage, perspective, a social media presence and long-form takeout pieces about one of the NBA's young emerging teams.
