BOSTON – Here are my key takeaways and “best” and “worst” awards from the 76ers’ 89-80 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night at TD Garden.
Five observations
— The Celtics didn’t show up to play. It was as if they didn’t think this game counted. Kyrie Irving, Boston’s NBA All-Star Game starting point guard, was sidelined with left shoulder soreness. Without him, the squad was a turnover-prone shell of itself.
— Even though the Celtics provided little resistance, Joel Embiid showed the versatility that made him an All-Star Game starter.