The buildup was all about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown crossing paths, and you could feel the tension before the ball even went up. It didn't take long to spill over. Brown reportedly ignored Tatum's dap-up attempt before tipoff - a moment the NBA world instantly branded "pure pettiness." The New York Times framed it perfectly: Brown's wounds may heal some day, but it didn't happen in the first game against Boston. On the floor, the basketball was the real story. The Celtics dominated the 76ers 123 - 101 on Nov. 10, and CBS Sports' winners and losers breakdown had Tatum outdueling Brown - though Paul George stole the show. When the final horn sounded, Boston turned Philadelphia's "Throw the ball up" slogan into a full-blown postgame troll. Because of course they did.
This is Celtics: the story behind the headlines and who it affects most - and the answer to that second part is simple: the fans who circled this date the second the schedule dropped.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Celtics 123, 76ers 101 |
| Headline duel | Jayson Tatum outdueled Jaylen Brown (CBS Sports) |
| Show stealer | Paul George |
| Pregame moment | Brown reportedly ignored Tatum's dap-up attempt |
| Postgame move | Celtics trolled Philly's "Throw the ball up" slogan |
> 📊 123 - 101 - Boston's 22-point statement win turned the reunion into a rout by the final horn.
Embiid's Shade, LeBron's Moment, and the Pettiness Bowl
Leave it to Joel Embiid to pour gasoline on a finished fire. Per HITC, Embiid couldn't resist taking what appeared to be a petty swipe at Tatum after the loss - another chapter in a rivalry that keeps giving. Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports called LeBron James "embarrassing" for what happened during the 76ers' loss to the Celtics, because apparently no major NBA storyline is complete without LeBron getting dragged into it. And in the background, Stephen A. Smith revealed why he stood down despite "wanting to confront" LeBron - proof that the league's off-court theater is running at full volume this week.
> 📊 Three separate beefs in one night - Brown's ignored dap, Embiid's swipe at Tatum, and the LeBron discourse all landed within 48 hours of the same game.
Why This Story Belongs to the Fans First
Here's the thing: this isn't really a story about X's and O's. It's a story about grudges, receipts, and the people who live for them. The fans who circled this date the moment Brown left Boston got exactly what they paid for - the ignored dap, the postgame troll, the Embiid subtweet energy. National media will move on by the weekend. Celtics and 76ers faithful will be trading screenshots of that tipoff moment until the next meeting. Just look at how fans reacted to the dap heard 'round the league: the "pure pettiness" verdict came from the NBA world itself, not the broadcast booth.
Add in the Grizzlies' potential involvement in NBA expansion and an Eastern Conference shakeup, and the Celtics' dominance lands right at the center of a conference that may look very different soon. For now, Boston owns the headlines - and the receipts. For the fan-first breakdown of every angle, keep it locked on Get Sports Journals.
