On Wednesday night, when they faced the Celtics, the 76ers appeared to be in a position to seize first place in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. While the Bruins were without injured guard Jaylen Brown and forward Kristaps Porzingis, Philadelphia got to play at home.

Having lost 132-126 to the Pacers in their previous game, the Sixers were playing in the second of a back-to-back. With 29 points from Jayson Tatum and 27 from Derrick White, the Celtics prevailed 117-107, and that might have been the deciding factor.

Joel Embiid, a top player for the Sixers, refused to blame the schedule for their defeat after the game. A comment he made on the Celtics, though, did cause some to wonder.

“That’s the schedule; you just gotta do it,” Embiid added, emphasizing that they are professional athletes. Yeah, it’s tough. It is difficult, playing the greatest team in the league twice in a row, especially after a bye week. However, justifications are not acceptable.

Everyоne tооk nоtice when Embiid referred tо Bоstоn аs “the best teаm in the leаgue.” This echоes his cоmments frоm fоur yeаrs аgо, when he sаid thаt the Sixers cоuldn’t be cоnsidered а threаt tо the Celtics becаuse Bоstоn cоnsistently defeаted them. Despite this, eаrlier this seаsоn Philаdelphiа defeаted the Celtics 106–103.

The defensive stance that Celtics center Al Horford took against the NBA MVP garnered him plaudits on social media as well. So far this season, Embiid has scored 20 points, which is his lowest total.

So far this season, Embiid has scored 20 points, which is his lowest total. Meanwhile, with 2 minutes and 32 seconds left on the clock, Horford made a game-winning three-pointer to put Boston up 110-102.

The Celtics’ record increased to 9-2 with the victory, putting them atop the Eastern Conference. With an 8-3 record, the Sixers are in second place in the league.