Kelly Oubre Jr. deserves some credit for helping the Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Boston Celtics on the road to open the season.

The Sixers erased that 11-point deficit and gritted out a one-point win at the TD Garden. Sixers fans who had previously resigned themselves to a morale victory because of Edgecombe’s historic debut and Maxey’s bag of scoring tricks could sleep well knowing their squad toughened up and flat-out beat a team that has always given them fits.

BOSTON — The Celtics blew a nine-point lead in the final 3:34 of regulation, falling to the Philadelphia 76ers 117-116 in their regular season opener at TD Garden.

The Boston Celtics forward made his feelings clear on what went wrong during the team's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers

The Celtics have a lot to learn about themselves. It sounded clear to Mazzulla before their 117-116 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. It was likely even more clear to him after his team allowed 42 fourth-quarter points while blowing a double-digit lead.

The Sixers coach needed no introduction. Nurse was the coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2018 when Boucher worked his way from a Summer League to a roster spot and a role on the Raptors where he won a ring with Toronto’s 2019 NBA Champions. Boucher played seven years in the Great White North before signing with Boston this summer.

BOSTON — Tyrese Maxey scored 40 points and VJ Edgecombe added 34 in his NBA debut to help the 76ers rally to beat the Boston Celtics 117-116 in their season-opener Wednesday night. Edgecombe scored the most points in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 on Oct. 24, 1959.

Although initially questionable due to hamstring tightness, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown will play against the Philadelphia 76ers.