An uncharacteristically poor defensive night cost the Boston Celtics during their Christmas Day loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Joe Mazzulla's team has been inconsistent on the defensive side of the floor all season despite consistently rising defensive rating rankings.

The Philadelphia 76ers had an opportunity to send a message on a stacked Christmas Day slate game against the Boston Celtics. On the 25th of December, the Sixer

Joel Embiid popped up from a pregame fall and scored 27 points with nine rebounds, making 4 of 5 from 3-point range and sinking a pair of free throws with 3 seconds left to turn back Boston's final rally and lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 118-114 victory on Wednesday.