Without Embiid on Monday, the Sixers fared well. They rolled out Adem Bona in the starting five, having Andre Drummond play as his backup. With another 40-point-plus outing for Tyrese Maxey, the veteran guard led the way for a third-straight Sixers victory. They now start the year off 3-0 with a 136-124 win.

The 76ers and Celtics begin their seasons tonight, and Sixers star Joel Embiid is returning from a long injury absence. Get our expert's best Joel Embiid player prop bet for this game, plus other recommended 76ers vs.

The Philadelphia 76ers started the season with a 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics despite Paul George and Jared McCain not playing. Tyrese Maxey erupted for 40 points. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added a cool 34 for the highest scoring output in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain in 1959. This is the good news.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid gets put on blast by NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal ahead of the his season opening game.

While Victor Wembanyama was dazzling the NBA world on Wednesday night, you might have missed some other developments from the season's first full slate.

It’s been a brutal season of never-ending despondency for Joel Embiid. The 76ers’ star center has only played 13 of the first 44 games of the 2024-25 season because of various injuries. Veteran fans of the Sixers know that Embiid’s frequent health-related “Did Not Plays” (DNPs) aren’t new.