Sunday night at TD Garden turned into a showcase for one of the NBA’s most quietly unstoppable forces. The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 114–98, and at the center of it all was Neemias Queta — a 7-footer from Portugal who looked every bit like the best player on the floor.
Queta Takes Over TD Garden
Neemias Queta finished the night with 27 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting an eye-popping 71.4 percent from the field. He hauled in 10 offensive rebounds and converted 13 second-chance points — numbers that would make any center in the league envious. Queta was relentless on the glass, punishing Philadelphia’s defense every time they failed to box out. His efficiency rating of 45 was the highest of any player in the game. Simply put, Queta was unguardable.
The 76ers had no answer for him. Every missed shot became a second opportunity, and Queta made sure Boston capitalized on every single one. He also added 3 blocks, protecting the rim and anchoring a Boston defensive scheme that held Philadelphia to just 39.8 percent shooting overall.
Brown and White Keep Boston Rolling
Neemias Queta did not do it alone. Jaylen Brown delivered a well-rounded 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, proving once again why he remains one of the most versatile wings in the Eastern Conference. Brown shot 100 percent from the free-throw line and kept the Celtics offense moving at a fluid pace throughout the night.
Derrick White chipped in 21 points on 5-of-11 from three-point range, adding 8 assists of his own. White’s sharpshooting stretched the Philadelphia defense and opened up driving lanes for both Brown and Queta to exploit. Boston’s starting five moved the ball with purpose, finishing with 27 assists as a team.
Philadelphia Could Not Keep Up
The 76ers did not go down without a fight. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with a game-high 33 points, knocking down 4 three-pointers and distributing 6 assists. Maxey was aggressive from start to finish, but his 35.3 percent shooting from the field told the full story of a night when nothing came easy for Philadelphia.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe flashed some serious potential off the bench with 23 points, hitting 5 threes and showing the kind of fearlessness that bodes well for Philadelphia’s future. Andre Drummond posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds while also coming up with 4 steals. Still, it was not enough to slow down a Boston team that was simply operating on a different level.
Celtics Climb Higher in the East
With the win, Boston improved to 40–20 on the season, continuing to build their case as one of the premier teams in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia dropped to 33–27, a record that still keeps them in playoff contention but highlights the work that remains ahead.
Neemias Queta has been one of the league’s best-kept secrets, but performances like Sunday’s are making that secret harder to keep. The Portuguese center is averaging meaningful minutes and producing at an elite level when called upon. His combination of interior scoring, relentless rebounding, and rim protection gives Boston a dimension that few teams can replicate.
As the Celtics push toward the postseason, Queta’s emergence could prove to be one of the most valuable developments for a team with championship ambitions.
