Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid didn’t sugar coat things after his team’s season-opening loss to the Celtics — the same group that ousted the Sixers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last postseason.
“This is not a rivalry,” Embiid said. “I don’t know our record against them, but it’s pretty bad. They always kick our ass.”
Tuesday night’s 105-87 loss was the latest defeat in Embiid and the Sixers’ fruitless efforts against the Celtics. Since Embiid was drafted third overall in 2014, Philadelphia is a measly 2-15 against Boston in the regular season. During that span, the Celtics also hold a 4-1 head-to-head advantage — one that should be 4-0 if you ask forward Jayson Tatum — in the postseason.