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oct 17 2026Joe Mazzulla rested all his starters in Boston and Hugo González seized the opportunity. The Madrid-born small forward was the most impactful player for a Celtics squad of reserves and G League players, who won in overtime (125-120) against a 76ers team with all their stars on the court: LeBron James in his home debut, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown facing his former team. Hugo scored 21 points in just under 20 minutes and closed the preseason with his best performance.
Hugo Fearless Against the Stars
With Sam Cassell on the sideline and rookie Chris Cenac Jr. in the starting lineup, Boston came out without hesitation and won the first quarter (34-28), taking advantage of the 76ers missing their first nine three-pointers. Hugo came off the bench and made an immediate impact. His most celebrated play was a steal on Jaylen Brown himself, finished with a dunk on the fast break, but he also hit from three-point range and, most importantly, attacked the rim with conviction. He shot 6 of 10 from the field, 3 of 7 from three, and 6 of 8 from the free throw line, without turning the ball over once.
Philadelphia bounced back in the second quarter on free throws, with 26 attempts already in the first half, and went into halftime ahead (60-58). In the third quarter, with Embiid and Maxey leading the team, the 76ers opened up a game-high 14-point lead and entered the final period up 94-84.
The Comeback and Overtime
Far from giving up, the Celtics won the final quarter 31-21 with offensive rebounding as their main weapon. They tied the game at 115, and Justin Edwards had the potential game-winner for the 76ers with a buzzer-beater that didn't fall. In overtime, Cassell's team was far superior. Milos Uzan scored four points and a three-pointer by Dillon Mitchell with a minute and a half remaining sealed the green victory, which ended with a 10-5 overtime performance.
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A Message for Mazzulla
For the 76ers, Embiid scored 27 points, Maxey 22, and Brown 20. LeBron finished with 8 points, though he added 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 25 minutes. The night, however, belonged to the Spaniard, who closes the preseason shooting 19 of 30 from the field and 11 of 20 from three. The Celtics finish the preseason undefeated at 4-0, and Hugo enters the start of the season with arguments to fight for a spot in the rotation.
