The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have squared off in three slugfests fitting of this storied East Coast rivalry. The first two tilts got decided by one point each. The two sides split those first clashes. Tuesday night in "The City of Brotherly Love," it again came down to the final seconds.
One should not lose sight of the fact that Jaylen Brown is shouldering a massive workload while playing All-NBA-caliber basketball. His leadership has been exemplary. That includes consistently being available despite dealing with a hamstring strain to start the season.
Against the Sixers on Tuesday, he registered a team-high 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Unfortunately for him and the Celtics, the final minute was one he'd like to have back.
The former Finals MVP stepped to the free-throw line with Boston trailing 100-99 with 33.5 seconds left. He went 1/2, evening the score. At the other end of the floor, when Tyrese Maxey spun into the paint, Brown bolted in his direction, recognizing an opportunity to force a turnover.
However, the 76ers' star guard's speed made him too difficult to get to. Maxey turned and fired a pass to Justin Edwards, who Brown had just peeled off of. Edwards was a scorching 8/8 from the field, including 5/5 from behind the arc.
Thankfully, with Payton Pritchard leaving Kelly Oubre Jr., sprinting to cover for his teammate and challenge the shot, the second-year wing finally missed. But with Brown ball-watching, Oubre had a free pass to the game-winning put-back.
put that thing back @KELLYOUBREJR 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/7R3o3Zrmrv
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 12, 2025
Jaylen Brown explains what went wrong on 76ers' game-winner
After Philadelphia's 102-100 win, Boston's star wing explained what unfolded on that play from his vantage point.
"Maxey was driving, he turned his back, I thought I could go make a play," said Brown post-game. "I thought that if I could go make a play, there wouldn't be enough time for them to get a shot off," he continued. "Oubre, I guess, slipped behind me for an easy offensive rebound. I got caught ball-watching. I've got to get in there and get in the fight."
It was the latest example of the Celtics finding themselves in a crunch-time contest, coming within inches of earning a feel-good win, but seeing self-inflicted wounds send them off the floor with a sour taste in their mouth. They have played in seven games within five points in the final five minutes. That is tied for the fourth most in the NBA this season. They're 2-5 in those instances.
"I think we're gonna be in a lot of close games this year," voiced Derrick White after Tuesday's defeat. "Definitely learn from and grow from, but it'd be nice to start winning some of them."
To achieve that next step and grant White's wish, Boston must minimize, and ideally, eliminate, the self-inflicted mistakes that are leading to the Celtics' struggles to prevail in these closely contested matchups.