A slow start from the Boston Celtics in their Christmas Day game against the Philadelphia 76ers left the Boston Celtics fighting an uphill battle and eventually consigned them to their eighth loss of the season.

The Celtics, who had to play the second half without Kristaps Porzingis due to an ankle problem, came close to turning things around, cutting a 14-point deficit down to two in the last 10 seconds, but it was too little,

BOSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid popped up from a pregame fall and scored 27 points with nine rebounds, making 4 of 5 from 3-point range and sinking a pair of free throws with 3 seconds left to turn back Boston's final rally and lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 118-114 victory on Wednesday.