Sixers' Maxey Laments Missed Shots in Loss to Celtics

Philadelphia falls short despite strong defensive effort against Boston

Mar. 2, 2026 at 4:47pm

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Tyrese Maxey expressed frustration after the Philadelphia 76ers fell 114-98 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday night. The Sixers played well defensively for much of the game, but struggled on the glass and in the paint, allowing the Celtics to pull away late. Maxey took responsibility for missing some key shots down the stretch that could have kept Philadelphia in the game.

Why it matters

The loss is a tough one for the Sixers, who are trying to hold onto a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With 22 games left in the season, every game is crucial, and the Sixers need to take advantage of opportunities like this one against a top team in the East.

The details

The Sixers trailed by as many as 16 in the third quarter, but fought back to make it a six-point game late. However, Maxey was unable to knock down some open looks, and the Celtics pulled away. Boston dominated the rebounding battle 59-37 and scored 30 second-chance points compared to just 10 for Philadelphia. The Sixers also struggled to contain the Celtics in the paint, where Boston scored 42 points.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Tyrese Maxey

A 24-year-old guard for the Philadelphia 76ers who has emerged as a key player for the team.

Joel Embiid

The 76ers' star center who missed the game due to injury.

Paul George

The 76ers' other star player who also missed the game due to injury.

Victor Wembanyama

The highly touted rookie center for the San Antonio Spurs, who the 76ers will face next.

Kyle Lowry

The veteran guard for the 76ers who was talking with Maxey after the game.

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What they’re saying

“I think the biggest frustrating part was, like, we couldn't come up with some defensive rebounds, and then, like, we got some really good looks, especially myself, and I came off wide open. Shots that I take any day of the week, and if we knock some of those down. Like, I missed a 3 that would've put us down three. Like, we're in a really good place. We played really well. I mean, at the end, they made some shots, and it's kind of over by then, but we did a really good job tonight.”

— Tyrese Maxey

What’s next

The Sixers will host the San Antonio Spurs and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama on Tuesday, March 4, 2026. With Joel Embiid already ruled out, the Sixers will face a major challenge in trying to contain Wembanyama.

The takeaway

This loss is a tough one for the Sixers, who are fighting to hold onto a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While they played well defensively for much of the game, their struggles on the glass and in the paint ultimately proved costly. The team will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to face another tough test against the Spurs and Wembanyama on Tuesday.