Midway through the 2023 preseason, the Sixers faced another loss against the Boston Celtics, falling 112-101. Kelly Oubre Jr. emerged as the top scorer with 18 points, while seven different Celtics players reached double figures, overpowering the Sixers.

Here are some observations from the game:

First Quarter:
In terms of uniforms, the addition of an extra red drop shadow has made the white jerseys difficult to read, unlike the blue jerseys where it was less noticeable. On the court, Tyrese Maxey once again stood out, scoring nine points in the first quarter. He played off the ball with Patrick Beverley on the floor but handled it more with De’Anthony Melton, likely simulating rotations for when James Harden returns. Danny Green had a strong first quarter, hitting two corner threes and making a fast-break layup after a steal. The Sixers trailed by four after the high-scoring first frame.

Second Quarter:
Jaden Springer’s offensive style is unique, with his size being an advantage when cutting and passing from the dunker spot. He also had a nice drive to the basket. The Sixers’ aggressive perimeter defense led to Maxey collecting four fouls in the first half. Kelly Oubre Jr. was another standout in the first half, scoring 16 points, with his shot selection pleasing analytics enthusiasts. The Sixers entered halftime trailing by eight.

Third Quarter:
Paul Reed showed improvement on the offensive end in the third quarter. While his defense had been solid, he had struggled offensively until then. He made layups, knocked down an elbow jumper, and even threw a lob to Oubre. Several key Boston players were rested by this point, including Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis. Mo Bamba continued to struggle against the Celtics, going 0-for-3 from the field and 0-for-2 from the free-throw line through three quarters. The Celtics extended their lead to 15.

Fourth Quarter:
Springer had a strong offensive performance, confidently shooting threes and aggressively driving to the basket. He finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. In the fourth quarter, the two-way players saw more playing time. Terquavion Smith connected with Springer for a highlight-worthy lob. Ricky Council IV also had a rim-rattling dunk off a lob from David Duke Jr.

The Sixers will face a different opponent in their next preseason game as they head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.