Neemias Queta Leads Celtics to Victory Over Sixers

Celtics center dominates the boards in 114-98 win

Mar. 2, 2026 at 6:47pm

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The Boston Celtics overcame a slow shooting start to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-98 behind a career night from center Neemias Queta. Queta finished with 27 points and 17 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, to power the Celtics' offense. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White also had strong performances for Boston.

Why it matters

The win over the Sixers is an important one for the Celtics as they jockey for playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Queta's breakout game shows the team's depth and ability to win in different ways, beyond just relying on their star players.

The details

The Celtics struggled with their shooting early, but Queta's dominance on the offensive glass kept them in the game. Boston outworked the Sixers, grabbing 13 second-chance points in the first half compared to just 8 for Philadelphia. Queta finished with 10 offensive rebounds, leading to several second-chance opportunities for the Celtics. Boston was also able to get to the free throw line more often than the Sixers, making 7 free throws in the first quarter compared to just 3 for Philadelphia.

  • The Celtics trailed by just 2 points at the first TV timeout despite their early shooting struggles.
  • Boston took a 12-point lead into halftime after a Baylor Scheierman buzzer-beater.
  • The Sixers made a run in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 6 points heading into the fourth.

The players

Neemias Queta

A 24-year-old center for the Boston Celtics who had a career-high 27 points and 17 rebounds in the win over the Sixers.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' star forward had a steady, all-around performance with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Derrick White

The Celtics' starting guard scored 21 points and added 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

Baylor Scheierman

The Celtics' rookie forward played through a fractured thumb and hit key 3-pointers at the end of each half.

Tyrese Maxey

The Sixers' guard scored 13 of his team-high 24 points in the third quarter to keep Philadelphia in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I think I just got lucky a couple times. Crashing. Just getting in there. Just getting a body in the paint and a lot of those came in just only where I could get to.”

— Neemias Queta, Celtics Center

“Baylor's been balling on both ends. His offensive rebounding has been great, and he's been shooting the ball at a pretty decent clip, too. So Baylor's just an all-around good basketball player. He's smart, and I like how he's developing, as well, so we just keep progressing that on.”

— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Forward

What’s next

The Celtics will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a high playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is against the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

The takeaway

Neemias Queta's breakout performance showed the Celtics' depth and ability to win in different ways, beyond just relying on their star players. The team's hustle and effort on the glass were key factors in the victory over the Sixers.